Exploring Demographic, Structural, and Behavioral Overlap Among Homicide Offenders and Victims

• NCJ Number: 214929
• Journal: Homicide Studies Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 155-180
• Author(s): Lisa M. Broidy; Jerry K. Daday; Cameron S. Crandall; David P. Sklar; Peter F. Jost
• Date Published: August 2006
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Drawing on criminal justice, health care, and the U.S. Census data, this study examined similarities between homicide victim and offender populations in Bernalillio County, NM between 1996 and 2001.

Abstract

Results indicated that, predictably, there was significant overlap in the social contexts and risk behaviors of homicide victims and offenders in Bernalillo County between 1996 and 2001. Specifically, homicide victims and offenders engaged in the same types of nonviolent offending behavior and tended to live and travel within similarly disadvantaged areas. These findings are consistent with much of the victimization research that suggests that risk of victimization is not randomly distributed across the population. However, there was a group of victims that was distinguishable from offender groups and in fact most victims in the study had no offending history. The findings have implications for intervention strategies for victims in terms of accounting for the potentially distinct pathways to victimization among different groups of victims. Criminal justice and medical records were collected for all 401 offenders and 360 victims involved in the 332 homicide incidents in Bernalillo County during the 6-year period from 1996 through 2001. Excluding domestic violence incidents brought the sample to 377 offenders and 321 victims involved in 310 homicide incidents. Arrest history was collected from a local criminal history database and medical history data was gathered from the University of Mexico Health Sciences Center. Variables under analysis included offense history, demographic and structural measures, and behavioral measures. Statistical data analysis included the use of analysis of variance (ANOVA) using generalized linear models. More research is called for on the distinctions and similarities between offender and victim populations. Figures, tables, notes, references