Gender comparison of young people charged with murder in England and Wales

This study investigated gender differences regarding young people charged with murder in England and Wales. A sample of 318 cases was collected from the Home Office’s Homicide Index and analysed. Of these cases, 93% of the offenders were male and 7% female. The analyses explored gender differences in terms of the offender’s race, offender’s age, victim’s age, victim’s gender, weapon used, offender-victim relationship, and circumstances of the offence. The study found that a female offender was significantly more likely to murder a family member than a male offender; and a male offender was significantly more likely to murder a stranger than a female offender. Additionally, a female offender was significantly more likely to murder a victim under the age of five than a male offender. Implications for interventions with young people who are charged with murder are discussed.