NCJ Number
170164
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 129-140
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study uses statistical graphics to analyze relationships between homicide offenders and victims in the United States by using Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) data on race, age, and weapons used, and it encourages a more visual approach to research by demonstrating the advantages of using graphical methods for data analysis.
Abstract
Race codes were taken from the race and ethnicity information in the SHR, which divides race into four categories: white, black, Indian, and Asian or Pacific Islander. Ethnicity contains two categories: "Hispanic origin" and "not of Hispanic origin." Data for this study show that generally homicide is predominantly intraracial. The SHR contains 17 weapon categories. This study summarizes weapons into three groups: firearms, other weapons, and no weapon. This study shows that attacks with knives, clubs, or hands and feet may actually be more frequent than those with firearms, but they are less likely to result in adult deaths. The majority of one-on-one homicides were committed by offenders between the ages of 15 and 45. Their victims were in the same age range. After few homicides for children between the ages of 5 and 12, the number of homicide victims increased, which may reflect more freedom from adult supervision and the beginning of associations with violent young adults. Statistical graphics provide researchers with a unique feel for data by showing patterns and relationships in ways that would be difficult to obtain from other methods. 1 table, 4 figures, and 9 references