Summary Report: Latino Intimate Partner Homicide

• NCJ Number: 248887
• Author(s): Chiara Sabina; Marc Swatt
• Date Published: April 2015
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2013-IJ-CX-0037
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)

Annotation

This summary report of a study of intimate partner homicide (IPH) among Latinos in America determined its rate, characteristics, and trends compared to IPH among Whites and African-Americans.

Abstract

Overall, the study found significant differences in the proportion of IPHs between Latinos and non-Latinos for each racial group (White, Black, and "other"), but was most striking compared to IPH among Whites. Twenty-two percent of homicides among Whites involved IPH; 10 percent of Black homicides were IPHs; 10 percent of Latino homicides were IPHs; and 17 percent of homicides among "other" races were IPHs. Regarding the age and gender of IPH victims, Latino victims were more likely to be in the 35-64 age group. Relative to other homicides, IPH was 21 times higher for Latino women than Latino men. Racial/ethnic comparisons were also made regarding the gender of IPH offenders, the circumstances of the homicide, whether or not alcohol/drug abuse was involved, prior history of abuse, weapon used in the homicide, and marital status. Data for this study were obtained from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NVDRS is the first national surveillance system for violent deaths It provides systematic, accurate, and timely data on violent deaths. For this study, data pertain to variables related to incidents; victims; suspects; death certificates; coroner/medical examiner/hospital; law enforcement; victim-suspect relationship; and weapon used. Data on race/ethnicity were obtained from death certificates. 3 tables and 13 references