Adolescents Who Commit Accidental Homicide: The Emotional Consequences to the Individual, Family, and Community

Four cases of adolescents who committed accidental homicide are presented in terms of how closely the accidental homicide resembles impulsive behavior. The closer the accidental homicide approximates an impulsive act, the more features characteristic of the high-risk groups are found. The cases also illustrate the effect of the accident on the adolescent, his family and community and how each system interacts on the basis of its level of integration.