The use of psychological knowledge when investigating domestic homicides

Abstract

This article touches upon urgent problems of law-enforcement practice for investigation of the most socially dangerous types of crimes – domestic homicides which form a considerable proportion of all the homicides committed in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Effective investigation of domestic homicides, realization of a complex of measures by authorized state bodies directed on prevention of such crimes is impossible without knowledge of psychological features of such a personality by the law enforcement official. The carried out scientific studying have made it possible to distinguish and generalize these features, to disclose their content.
The article explains psychological features of the person committed domestic homicide, gives opinions of scientists who have developed, studied and researched these spheres, specifies mental abnormalities, their significance and influence on the illegal behavior of the person committed domestic homicide. The author has made an attempt to indicate reasons which lead or may lead to commission of acts of aggression in a family and also designates other external circumstances, subjective factors influencing a choice of a violent way of resolving conflicts. Features of a domestic murderer’s behavior after commission of a socially dangerous act are given.
The author uses not only empirical data, but also facts of the investigative and judicial practice which have made it possible to unite practical experience with psychological, criminological researches of personality, in relation to domestic homicides. In this regard, this article is of scientific and practical interest for the experts involved in investigation of domestic homicides and their prevention.