The purpose of the study is to investigate general homicides and family homicides including parricide, filicide, and spousal homicide. The study also examines crime circumstances, characteristics of offenders and victims, and policies to prevent familicides in other countries, such as U.S.A., Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Hongkong.
First, the study reviewed the literatures about family homicide in other countries. Secondly, data from major criminal justice agencies (i.e., the Prosecutors' Office and the National Police Agency) were examined. Third, we analyzed the surveys and records of homicidal inmates. Fourth, we incorporated experts’ opinions on family homicide and prevention programs in the countries above. Finally, policy implications to prevent family homicide and provide high quality services were discussed.

1. Characteristics of Homicide
Overall, the rates of homicide have decreased for a last decade. While males (80%) were the majority of offenders, females accounted for about 15%. In offenders’ age categories, 40s accounted for 29.5%, followed by 50s (21.2%), 30s (19.6%), and 20s (14.1%). About quarter of offenders (23-26%) did not have a prior criminal conviction. However, the percentage of offenders who did not have a prior criminal conviction has slightly increased from 22.7%, 25.9% to 26.7% for the past three years. Most offenders (30-40%) committed homicide based on non-instrumental/emotional motivations. Over 50% of offenders used a knife. A hammer or other tools accounted for 5 to 6%, and lopes or cords accounted for 2 to 3%. Most victims were males (54-61%), while 37 to 41% of the victims were females. Therefore, both homicide offenders and victims tended to be males, indicating homicidal crimes are intragender. In victims’ age categories, most victims were 50 or below (28.2%), followed by 60 or below (21.3%), 40 or below (17.9%), and 30 or below (10.7%). Interestingly, familicide accounted for 38.1% (family/relative: 21.2%; co-reside family: 16.9%), while 21.6% of homicide occurred among strangers.

2. Characteristics of Female Homicide
Homicide committed by female offenders ranged from 9% to 20% for past four decades. Most female offenders were in their 30s (23.8%), followed by 40s (25.2%), 20s (19.6%), 50s (16.7%), and 60s (5.7%). Most female offenders (38.5%-60%) did not have a prior criminal conviction.

3. Characteristics of Family homicide
Parricide offenders had lower education and income levels than spousal homicide offenders. Filicide offenders had better education than parricide offenders, but lower income than spouse killers. Parricide and filicide offenders more reported family problems and mental issues than spouse killers. Parricide offenders reported significantly more childhood physical abuses. A higher percentage of cognitive problems of parricide offenders was also reported.
The results from the KORAS-G (Korean Offender Risk Assessment System - General) suggest several patterns. Parricide offenders (including killing grandparents) tended to have more problems in education and marital status. Spousal homicide offenders (including ex- and current spouse) tended to have more issues in prior criminal convictions and alcohol/drug. In KORAS-G, parricide and filicide offenders showed the significantly higher risk than spousal killers. The PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist - Revised) reported an equivalent finding, implying parricide and filicide offenders showed more problems in their lifestyle (facet 3) than spousal homicide offenders.

4. Characteristics of Media Report about Familicide-Suicide
We examined media reports (i.e., articles of newspapers, news, etc.) from 2000 to 2019 describing familicide-suicide. A total of 426 were studied. Filicide-suicide accounted for 41.1%, spousal homicide-suicide accounted for 24.4%, and killing both child(ren) and spouse before suicide accounted for 16.9%.
When offenders killed both child(ren) and spouse before suicide, most offenders were in 40s (38.6%), followed by 30s (32.9%) and 50s (18.6%). Spousal homicide-suicide offenders were mostly in their 60s (49%), followed by 50s (21.2%), 40s (18.2%), and 30s (6.7%). Parricide-suicide offenders were mostly in their 40s (31.8%), followed by 30s and 50s (equally 27.3%). Filicide-suicide offenders were mostly in their 30s (45.1%), followed by 40s (27.2%) and 50s (12.1%).
Poisoning or/and coal CO intoxication were used most frequently in familicide-suicide. Financial problems (47.5%) was the most common motivation for spousal homicide-suicide and filicide-suicide, followed by money (28.8%) and personal pessimism (11.9%). On the other hand, personal pessimism (40.9%) was the most common motivation for parricide-suicide, followed by financial problems (36.4%) and money (13.6%).

5. Policy Implications
A. Strategies to prevent family homicide: Risk assessment, risk management, and safety network.
B. Establishing a committee to prevent family homicide: Homicide analysis team consists of inter-agency members.
C. Validating an instrument to screen high risk individuals and education/ training about family homicide.
D. Prevention strategies for a high risk group of family homicide.
E. Tailored strategies toward offenders and victims based on their crime-related characteristics.
F. Safety network for a vulnerable group.
G. Prevention strategies that fit to social dynamics.
H. Building homicide and family homicide database using the national crime statistics.
I. Prevention strategies based on different forms of family homicide.
J. Directions for future research.