Youth homicide is an uncommon event, but it raises serious concerns. How should the criminal justice system respond to violent young offenders who take the lives of others? Public discourse focuses on the "depravity" of the acts and of the adolescents involved. The stress is on punishment and retribution. Yet, these children were not "born bad"; they were created, and the social context of their lives is usually ignored.

This qualitative study of young offenders convicted of murder and manslaughter takes on the challenge of examining the social-psychological development of young people convicted of homicide. In-depth interviews explore offenders' experiences in early childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood; their accounts of the homicides; and their life in custody. This research shows that the pathways leading young people to homicide are as varied as the types of killings perpetrated. Some were raised in social environments conducive to extreme violence where they witnessed, experienced, and were trained in the use of violence. Others found themselves frustrated and angry by their life circumstances. These experiences contributed to a lack of empathy for their victims and limited their insights into the enormity of their actions.

This groundbreaking book addresses a critical gap in the literature, highlighting the importance of community-based early intervention, prevention, assessment and rehabilitation. It is a valuable resource for students and professionals.

Katharine Kelly is an Associate Professor in the Pauline Jewett Institute of Women's and Gender Studies and in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton University in Ottawa. She is co-author, with Mark Totten, of When Children Kill: A Social-Psychological Study of Youth Homicide (UTP, 2002).

Katharine Kelly's profile page

DR. MARK TOTTEN's research focuses on gangs, sexual exploitation andtrafficking, crime prevention, mental health, child maltreatment and familyviolence, bullying and harassment, corrections and policing, and gender identity.He has worked on eight major studies in this area during the past fifteen years,in research funded by public agencies like the Department of Justice Canadaand the National Crime Prevention Centre. Many of his projects involvepartnerships with Aboriginal and ethno-racial communities.

In 2011-2012, he is collaborating with groups in Ontario and WesternCanada in the development and evaluation of multi-year gang prevention,intervention, and suppression strategies.

Mark Totten is past Director of Research at the Youth Services Bureau ofOttawa (1987-2007) and has worked with high-risk children, youth, adults,and families for over thirty years. A well-known expert witness for both Crownand Defence Counsel on gangs and criminal subculture, he has written manybooks, academic articles, and government reports, including Guys, Gangs andGirlfriend Abuse (2000), When Children Kill: A Social-Psychological Studyon Youth Homicide (2002), and Promising Practices for Addressing YouthInvolvement in Gangs (2008).

Mark Totten's profile page