10/7/26 · Law

Hidden violence: family members as the main victims of homicides linked to mental disorders

A study carried out by researchers from the UOC has examined homicides in Spain over the last decade to characterize crimes committed by people with mental disorders and the consequences for the victims

Researchers warn that efforts to avoid stigmatizing mental illness should not render victims invisible, particularly within the family sphere

A total of 26% of homicides committed by people with mental disorders are parricides

The study analysed more than 2,500 homicides tried in Spain (photo: Adobe)

Pablo Ramos / Rubén Permuy

In recent decades, the social and legal perception of people with mental disorders who commit crimes has changed. Initially, people with mental disorders were considered dangerous. However, since the late 20th century, the paradigm has shifted at both social and legal levels, with people experiencing mental disorders often considered victims themselves, despite having committed intentional crimes.

In this new context, a team of researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) has analysed homicides committed in Spain to characterize those perpetrated by people with mental disorders and study the factors that determine the victims and the compensation awarded in legal proceedings.

"The noble aim of avoiding stigmatizing people with mental disorders as dangerous can contribute to overlooking the serious situation of those who are victims of this violence or face a greater risk of victimization", explained Josep Maria Tamarit, a professor of Criminal Law at the UOC and coordinator of the Empirical and Applied Victimology research group (VICRIM) and of this research, together with professors Laura Arantegui and Alba Marsol, who are part of the same group and are all teachers in the Faculty of Law and Political Science.

“Family members are most at risk and do not receive sufficient support from institutions”

Analysis of 2,500 homicides in a decade

As part of the study, the researchers belonging to the Digital Transformation and Governance Research Centre (UOC-DIGIT) evaluated, through review, more than 2,500 cases of homicide tried by the Spanish courts. Of these cases, 10% involved perpetrators with some type of mental disorder. In addition, it should be noted that, in the vast majority of cases, lethal attacks resulting in homicide committed by people suffering from some type of mental disorder occurred in the home, with 26%being parricides (involving the killing of a parent).

According to the experts, the main objective of this open-access study was to shed light on a reality that has so far been overlooked: the lack of recognition and compensation for victims of lethal violence committed by people with mental disorders, an issue obscured by efforts to prevent the stigmatization of the perpetrators. In addition, the study found that only a small number of victims of such crimes received compensation or financial support, a disadvantage largely attributable to the intrafamilial nature of most incidents.

The issue is complex: on the one hand, when a person with a mental disorder intentionally assaults a family member, the consequences include both physical and psychological harm; moreover, other family members are also affected.

Family ties as the greatest risk factor

However, in many cases, because of this tendency to avoid stigmatizing people with mental disorders, perpetrators are acquitted or receive minimal sentences. Meanwhile, victims, both direct and indirect, are left without any compensation. "Family members are most at risk because they are the people who have the greatest contact with perpetrators. Society leaves this problem in the hands of families. It is also important to consider the tensions that can arise within family relationships, which are intensified by the stress caused by living with people with these types of disorders", explained Tamarit, who noted that these victims "do not receive sufficient support from institutions".

In this way, this legal and contextual situation can be "considered a systemic failure" because victims are not compensated. Moreover, in some cases, in order to obtain effective compensation, they must hire a lawyer and pursue criminal proceedings against a family member with a mental disorder.

"We don't have any data to report specific failures, but if one considers that more than 10% of homicides are committed by people who represent no more than 2% of the population, and whose mental health problems are known to the healthcare system in most cases, we should be able to improve the detection of cases involving risk and the monitoring of individuals and their families," said the UOC researcher.

Preventive and reparative measures

To prevent this type of homicide, particularly within the family setting, support for families provided by the public healthcare system should be strengthened, including follow-up care for cases where risk has been identified.

In the experts' view, it is essential to rethink the current approach to victimization and to focus on the specific characteristics of this form of victimization, which frequently occurs within the perpetrator's closest family circle.

"The healthcare system should increase the monitoring of cases, apply risk identification tools and improve the public support system for victims of violent crime. While several reforms have been introduced to improve support in cases of gender-based violence, other needs have so far remained overlooked", concluded Tamarit.

This project is aligned with the UOC's research missions: Education of the future and Culture for a critical society; and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) numbers 10, Reduced inequalities, and 16, Peace, justice and strong institutions.

Related article

Josep Maria Tamarit, Laura Arantegui-Arráez, Alba Marsol-Gutiérrez, Invisible harm after lethal violence: Victims of homicide by offenders with mental disorders, Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Volume 120, 2026, 103173, ISSN 1752-928X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103173.

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FAQs

According to the UOC study, approximately 10% of the more than 2,500 homicides analysed involved perpetrators with a mental disorder.

Family members are most at risk, since they typically have closest contact with the perpetrator. Of the homicides committed by people with mental disorders analysed by the study, 26% involved the killing of a parent. Les persones de l'entorn familiar són les més exposades, ja que solen mantenir un contacte més estret amb l'agressor. El 26 % dels homicidis comesos per persones amb trastorns mentals analitzats van ser parricidis.

The intrafamilial nature of many of these crimes, together with legal decisions related to the perpetrator's circumstances, makes it more difficult for both direct and indirect victims to obtain financial compensation.

In addition to the physical and psychological harm suffered by direct victims, other family members may experience emotional trauma, stress and significant strain resulting from living with the perpetrator and from the legal proceedings.

The researchers recommend strengthening case monitoring within the healthcare system, using risk assessment tools and providing greater public support to those affected and their families.

The researchers advocate a balanced approach that avoids automatically associating mental disorders with dangerousness while recognizing existing risks, protecting families and ensuring that victims receive adequate redress.