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OtherJOURNAL ARTICLE

Capital versus noncapital murderers

RL Frierson, DM Schwartz-Watts, DW Morgan and TD Malone
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online September 1998, 26 (3) 403-410;
RL Frierson
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DM Schwartz-Watts
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DW Morgan
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TD Malone
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Abstract

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.

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Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online: 26 (3)
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
Vol. 26, Issue 3
1 Sep 1998
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Capital versus noncapital murderers
RL Frierson, DM Schwartz-Watts, DW Morgan, TD Malone
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Sep 1998, 26 (3) 403-410;

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Capital versus noncapital murderers
RL Frierson, DM Schwartz-Watts, DW Morgan, TD Malone
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Sep 1998, 26 (3) 403-410;
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