Capital versus noncapital murderers.
This study compares three groups of murderers: those who have received a death sentence (n = 18), those who were eligible to receive a death sentence but did not have it sought against them (n = 18), and those who were not eligible for the death penalty (n = 18). A retrospective record review of these 54 pretrial detainees in South Carolina who underwent court-ordered competency and criminal responsibility evaluations was completed comparing the following variables: age, race, marital status, educational level, prior legal history, relationship to the victim, race of the victim, existence of a codefendant, prior psychiatric history, psychiatric diagnoses, substance abuse history, use of substances at the time of the crime, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or WAIS-Revised Full Scale IQ, and evidence of organic impairment. Statistically significant findings included race of the murderer, race of the victim, relationship to the victim, and existence of a codefendant. Death row inmates were more likely to be Caucasian and much more likely to have murdered a Caucasian than a non-Caucasian victim. Death row inmates were less likely to know their victims and more likely to have a codefendant. Psychiatric and organic findings did not differ among the groups, but the rate of organic findings and substance abuse was high in all three groups.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of South Carolina School of Medicine 29202, USA.
R L
RL
Frierson
D M
DM
Schwartz-Watts
D W
DW
Morgan
T D
TD
Malone
D000328:Adult; D002203:Capital Punishment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011329:Prisoners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013022:South Carolina; D014888:Wechsler Scales