Abstract
To ask a forensic psychiatrist to review a published work by a criminologist is to invite criticism and dissent. Put simply, criminologists and forensic psychiatrists spend their time looking down the opposite ends of a telescope at the same phenomena. Thus, it was inevitable that when reviewing this book I had some quibbles with the discussion and the conclusions reached. However, the criticisms are limited. My general impression of this book is that it is a well-researched, well-written, thoughtful text.
Associate Professor Alder and Professor Polk are both criminologists based at the University of Melbourne. Professor Polk has written a previous book on male homicide (When men kill: scenarios of masculine violence, 1994). This book is similar in its study design. Essentially it is a monograph describing a case study analysing all cases of child homicide (victims aged under 18) referred to the Office of the Coroner for the State of Victoria in the years 1985–1995. By virtue of the fact that such cases form a larger sample than those that eventually reach prosecution or conviction, it therefore represents a comprehensive case analysis over this period.
The writers use a considered methodology to study the phenomena of child homicide. They are careful from the beginning to point out the diverse pathways to the offending and the varied characteristics of the offenders and the victims. What develops from this is the high representation of women as offenders in this group compared with their representation in homicides generally, and the types of child homicides where women predominate. The analysis also allows for ready appreciation of the importance of the relationship between the offender and victim.
My main criticism of this book is on a psychiatric level. In considering maternal filicide they unfortunately downplay the role of psychiatric illness. Their suggestion that there is no relationship between mental disorder and criminal behaviour is clearly at odds with academic consensus and the literature, and it is unfortunate that they maintain this thesis. They rightly indicate that there is a tendency to over pathologise women who kill their children. However, in their description of maternal filicide/ suicides they speak of the mothers having ‘taken the only action that is left to them to ensure the happiness of their child’. This is a failure to recognize the way in which severe depressive illness can distort and warp the mother's view of the world. In other words, such acts, although having an internal logic, represent the product of severe mental illness. A similar but lesser criticism applies to the analysis of biological fathers who kill their children.
In their conclusions the authors again emphasize the diversity and the patterns of offenders. They rightly attempt an understanding in social, relationship and gender contexts. Their attempt at a theoretical analysis is inevitably incomplete, reflecting our current state of knowledge.
This book has much to recommend it. The case study methodology provides a wealth of individual information thus allowing for a more meaningful understanding of the individual offences. However, at the same time they have collected a comprehensive set of offences enhancing the quality of the data provided. They write sensibly about the methodology and the limitations of their study. The Victorian origins of the book means that it is of particular relevance locally, but the quality of the research gives it general relevance. This book is of considerable value to anyone involved in the area of childhood homicide including forensic psychiatrists and psychologists, sociologists, criminologists, and social workers.