NCJ Number
167167
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1997) Pages: 84-100
Date Published
1997
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Data collection was accomplished in eight U.S. cities that experienced different homicide trends between 1985 and 1994 to study policy, community, and individual factors affecting local homicide trends.
Abstract
Four basic factors guided the study: (1) focus on communities with strong changes in homicide trends; (2) focus on a limited number of communities; (3) focus on recent history because this period is most relevant to policymakers; and (4) perceptions of and actual changes in homicide-related factors in the eight cities. Cities were selected for the study based on their populations and the strength of their homicide rate trends over the 1985-1994 period. The eight cities included Miami, Indianapolis, Richmond, New Orleans, Tampa, Detroit, Atlanta, and the District of Columbia. It was hypothesized that certain factors would influence changes in homicide trends, such as police practices, police task forces, actual and perceived likelihood of punishment, drug market stability, extent and type of drug use, weapon availability, gang activity, economic conditions, demographic changes, and crime prevention programs. Site visits and interviews were conducted during the summer of 1996. Findings from the eight cities will be integrated into a separate report that will summarize data related to the study hypotheses. 2 references, 3 notes, 3 tables, and 2 figures