Children and Adolescents Who Kill

The terms children and adolescents refer to persons under the age of 18 years of age. Adolescence is the period of human development when puberty begins as youngsters approach adulthood, usually starting between the ages of 11 and 13. This developmental period is characterized by major physiological and physical changes in the human body and is one of emotional highs and lows. Some adolescents display abrupt and unexpected personality changes as they experiment with drugs, become increasingly independent from their families, interact more with their peers, and strive to meet social pressures of success within academic, social, and occupational settings. While many youngsters will participate in minor deviant behaviors such as underage drinking, speeding, truancy, smoking, sexual promiscuity, and less serious criminal acts, others will commit crimes such as aggravated assault, rape, arson, and even murder. When youth do commit such heinous acts, these offenses typically receive a disproportionate amount of press coverage. Of all criminal acts, homicide is the most egregious act of interpersonal violence committed within our society. A homicide is defined as the willful and purposeful killing of another human being. Thus, the topic of juvenile killers is an important issue within society.