LAUSR

Research into homicides typically focuses on adults offenders, as they represent the majority of cases. There are, however, a number of cases involving individuals under the age of 18 committing murder. To understand homicides, researchers have been increasingly using temporal methods. The current research investigates the life histories of adolescents who have committed murder, using two leading temporal methods: Behavior Sequence Analysis and Crime Script Analysis. Results show the complexities of behavioral pathways in terms of transitions between behaviors and groups of behaviors into scenes. The application of this research is in helping practitioners and researchers to better understand the life histories of offenders and understanding the strengths and limitations of each method.