| This study investigated juvenile homicide within a social learning framework. Levels of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and weapon accessibility among juvenile murderers, violent juveniles, and nonviolent juveniles were examined. Juveniles (N = 69) remanded to the California Youth Authority completed a questionnaire comprised of demographic information, physical and sexual abuse experiences, and accessibility to firearms. Data specific to the juvenile murderer literature were also gathered. A series of chi-square analyses produced one statistically significant finding. Juvenile murderers have more access to firearms kept in a secure compartment than do violent and nonviolent juveniles, p < .01. A full-model discriminant function analysis was conducted in order to determine if specific variables (i.e., quantity of physical abuse, sexual abuse, handguns in the home, rifles in the home, shotguns in the home, use of a firearm with adult supervision) were related to group membership. This analysis produced no statistically significant results. Although the findings do not confirm the research hypotheses, they provide support for the reviewed literature which identifies a relationship between physical abuse and weapon accessibility and violent delinquent acts. |
