NCJ Number
168626
Date Published
1998
Length
0 pages
Annotation
These presentations summarize the findings of research that began in 1994 and that focuses on trends in homicide in eight cities and the relationship of the homicide trends to contextual, criminal justice system response, and situational factors.
Abstract
The interagency research effort selected the 10-year period that began in 1985, the most recent low point for homicide. The cities were selected from those with high numbers and rates of homicides among cities with populations above 200,000. The eight cities were Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, New Orleans, Richmond, Indianapolis, and Miami. The researchers spend 3 days at each site, where they gathered data and conducted structured interviews with criminal justice officials, medical personnel, school administrators, housing officials, mayors, city managers, and community representatives. The study compared perceptions with data regarding the situational domains of economic factors, services such as domestic assault services and emergency medical services, and prevention efforts; criminal justice responses, including policing, multijurisdictional task forces, incapacitation, and actual and perceived punishment; and the situational factors of drug markets, drug use, guns, and gangs. Results revealed that black males ages 18-24 are disproportionately represented among victims and that victimization rates of black males ages 13-17 are generally increasing. Victims tended to be of the same race and age group as offenders, when offender characteristics were known. Results also revealed varied perceptions and relationships among the data and the three domains studied. Questions from audience members, answers by the speakers, and introduction by National Institute of Justice Director Jeremy Travis