skilsmisse og kriminalitet
A descriptive label for true crime narratives where divorce features as context or motive in criminal cases, not a legal term or category of offense
"Divorce and crime" is not a recognized legal doctrine, statutory category, or term of art in criminal law. Divorce itself is a civil legal proceeding that dissolves a marriage and is entirely distinct from criminal law. The phrase appears primarily in true crime media to describe cases where marital dissolution features prominently in the narrative context of a crime, such as when a spouse commits homicide during divorce proceedings, engages in custodial interference, or violates court orders related to the dissolution.
When criminal conduct occurs in connection with divorce proceedings, it is prosecuted under standard criminal statutes applicable to the specific offense committed—such as murder, assault, stalking, contempt of court, or violations of protective orders. The existence of divorce proceedings may be introduced as evidence of motive, state of mind, or context, but does not constitute a separate criminal classification or enhance penalties unless specifically provided by statute.
In federal criminal jurisdiction, the vast majority of divorce-related crimes would fall under state law, as domestic relations are traditionally matters of state concern. Federal courts have jurisdiction over offenses against the laws of the United States as established in Title 18 of the U.S. Code, but divorce itself does not trigger federal criminal jurisdiction absent other federal interests such as interstate flight, federal property involvement, or specific federal statutes like the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act.
True crime accounts frequently emphasize divorce as a narrative element because it often coincides with heightened interpersonal conflict, financial stress, and custody disputes—factors that may correlate with criminal behavior. However, this correlation does not create a legal nexus or special category within criminal jurisprudence. Courts analyze the underlying criminal conduct according to applicable penal codes without regard to whether divorce proceedings were concurrent or causally related.