NCJ Number
134478
Date Published
1991
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This report presents data on homicide incidents, victims, and offenders in Australia for fiscal year 1989-90 for the purpose of identifying the characteristics of persons that place them at particular risk of homicide victimization and offending as well as the circumstances that enhance the likelihood of homicide occurring.
Abstract
Data on the incident cover jurisdiction, geographical area, location, time of day/day of week, precipitating factors, weapon/method, and drug involvement. Data are also provided on victim and offender characteristics, the relationship between victim and offender, characteristics shared by victims and offenders, and homicide patterns. Information on 306 homicides was collected; they involved 330 victims and 335 suspects/offenders. Data show that incidents occurred most often in suburban locations in the victim's own home on a Friday or Saturday night. The participants most often knew one another, and the factor that precipitated the incident was often a domestic altercation between intimates or family members; homicides also frequently resulted from altercations between peers over apparently trivial matters. The cause of death was almost always a firearm, a knife or similar implement, or an assault. There were a number of demographic characteristics associated with the risk of homicide shared by victims and offenders. For both groups, the majority were males in their twenties, single, Australian-born, and unemployed. Aboriginality was also an important risk factor. Both were often under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, and either or both may have had a criminal record. 13 tables, 1 figure, and 8 references