Sexual Murder - Justicia Forense

ability, in an attempt to answer a central question: why did this personbecome the victim of a sexual murderer? Key to the answer is an assessmentof victim risk: the level of risk (high, moderate, low) in which the victimplaced herself prior to becoming a victim (Douglas, Burgess, Burgess, andRessler, 1992). For example, some sexual murderers seek high-risk victims(such as hitchhikers or prostitutes), whereas others seek out low-risk victims(e.g., people whose habitual lifestyles, such as a preference for stayingat home, make them relatively inaccessible as targets). Thus, informationon victim risk, as well as on the level of risk the offender takes to committhe crime, helps investigators generate a profile of the unidentified offenderbeing sought.1.11 CommentDespite the many problems involved in the study of sexual murders anddespite their relative rarity, the tragedy they cause and the potential forrepetition make them too important to ignore. Although we might not beat a level of understanding where advanced statistical analysis can beemployed, case studies as well as descriptive statistics and qualitative researchdesigns are credible and heuristic (Camie, Rhodes, and Yardley, 2003). Gradually,by comparing and grouping cases, identifying commonalities, anddiscovering unique qualities, we are increasing our understanding of thisform of criminal behavior.Not only can our findings help us further understand sexual homicide(as well as various forms of sexually motivated antisocial behavior) but thereis practical application for this knowledge base. Psychologists and psychiatristshave customarily been used as forensic specialists in matters such ascriminal responsibility, competency, sentencing, and parole. In addition tothese traditional areas, new areas of forensic practice are emerging thatrequire extensive knowledge of criminal psychopathology such as consultationto nonforensic mental health professionals and law enforcement, governmentand industry. Although, admittedly, we lack statistical validationstudies, it is simply incorrect to conclude that we know too little about sexualmurder, for example, to be of help to other professionals.In the past 20 years, the explosion of knowledge in the mental healthfield has been phenomenal. No longer can one be in general practice; instead,specialization in one or several areas is required if one is to practice ethicallyat an acceptable level of competence. Forensic psychologists and psychiatristswith knowledge of criminal psychopathology may be a great resource tononforensic mental health professionals seeking consultation on a treatmentcase. For example, a nonforensic general psychiatrist or clinical psychologist