This special issue of Homicide Studies examines what happens after homicide, shifting attention from the offense itself to the longer-term experiences of individuals convicted of lethal violence. The four articles explore parole and post-release outcomes, desistance and identity change, family relationships after lengthy incarceration, and the broader life-course experiences of incarcerated homicide offenders. Together, they highlight how incarceration, stigma, family ties, institutional responses, and opportunities for reintegration shape life after conviction. By extending homicide research beyond the circumstances of the offense, this special issue offers a fuller understanding of punishment, change, reentry, and the enduring consequences of lethal violence.
While traumatic losses such as those caused by homicide have been associated with poorer mental health outcomes, there is substantial heterogeneity in bereavement experiences, including the coexistence of distress and wellbeing. In this study, we sought to identify profiles of bereaved individuals based on their similarities in symptom levels and wellbeing indicators and determine whether type of loss predicts profile membership. A total of 238 participants bereaved by homicide or illness completed measures of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, prolonged grief disorder, post-traumatic growth, and life satisfaction. Latent profile analysis yielded profiles which were then compared based on psychosocial factors (fundamental beliefs, trauma coping self-efficacy and perceived social support). Three profiles emerged: a Low Distress–High Life Satisfaction profile (44.5%), a Moderate Distress–Moderate Life Satisfaction profile (37.4%) and a High Distress–Low Life Satisfaction profile (18.1%). Individuals bereaved by homicide were more likely to belong to the High Distress–Low Life Satisfaction profile. Profiles differed in fundamental beliefs, trauma coping self-efficacy and perceived social support. Levels of post-traumatic growth were equivalent across profiles. These findings suggest that post-traumatic growth can coexist with posttraumatic stress, depression and prolonged grief disorder. Clinical implications for fostering post-traumatic growth in bereaved individuals are discussed.
This study examines the release processes and post-release outcomes of individuals in North Carolina convicted of capital murder who were either initially sentenced to life with the possibility of parole or sentenced to death and later resentenced to life with the possibility of parole. The time period covered is 1977 to 1994, an era before North Carolina implemented life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) as the alternative sentence to the death penalty. Using logistic regression, we assess factors associated with parole decisions, including indicators of offender blameworthiness, community protection, and extra-legal considerations. We then analyze time to recidivism and offense types among those released, employing Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Finally, we explore associations between case, offender and victim characteristics, and recidivism using Fisher’s Exact Tests for dichotomous variables and nonparametric tests for continuous variables. Major findings indicate that of those whose life sentence remained intact ( n = 360), 159 (43.3%) have been granted parole. Of those, only 9 (5.7%) were later convicted of a crime, none of which were of a violent nature. These findings challenge the common justification for life without parole as necessary to prevent future harm, suggesting that assumptions about the dangerousness of capital murder offenders may be overstated.
This is a study of difficult familial reintegration dynamics for individuals formerly serving LWOP, de facto life, or other lengthy sentences. The Supreme Court decisions of the past decades have provided potential opportunities for freedom to individuals who were sentenced as adolescents to life without the possibility of parole. Additionally, in Louisiana, there was an 8-year period in which individuals serving de facto life sentences were also given a window of opportunity for release. One of the most difficult challenges individuals faced after serving lengthy sentences was trying to reconnect to and reintegrate into families that never expected them to return home. This study uses 92 in-depth life history interviews with individuals formerly serving LWOP or other lengthy sentences to explore the impact of carceral separation on the deterioration of familial relationships.
According to the CDC, the rate of firearm-involved homicides for US men over age 50 increased 87% between 2010 and 2021. Despite this trend, little is known about these homicides as few studies examine homicide against older adults and even fewer focus on older men. This study seeks to identify the characteristics of firearm-involved homicides against older men and how they might vary across older men of different ages. To explore situational contexts of these incidents, this study uses a domain-centered framework. This study takes a mixed-methods approach that uses quantitative data from the 2022 and 2023 National Incident-Based Reporting System and qualitative data from the 2023 Gun Violence Archive. Clear distinctions are found between victims in their 50s and 60s as compared to those over 70 in terms of victim and offender demographics, relationships, and incident characteristics. By using a domain-centered framework to interpret the findings, this study emphasizes a need to expand prior home-focused explanations to account for active lifestyles including continued participation in the workforce and leisure activities among older men especially those in their 50s and 60s. This study provides the foundational knowledge necessary for future work on risk factors and tailored prevention strategies for this victim group.
