NCJ Number
231026
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 5 Dated: July 2010 Pages: 521-532
Date Published
July 2010
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effect of social structure on family homicides.
Abstract
To date, few studies have analyzed the relationship that economic deprivation and social disorganization have with disaggregated family homicide types. This study utilized data from the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports from years 2000-2007 in order to explore the effect social structural variables have on rates of family homicidesspecifically, intimate partner, filicide, parricide, and siblicide. Cities with more than 100,000 residents were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression. Findings showed that economic deprivation had a significant and positive relationship with all types of disaggregated family homicides, but were stronger for intimate partner homicides and filicides. Social disorganization, however, showed a negative relationship with these types of homicides. Our study provides a basis for possible policy implications, such as economically based institutions to help those in need before financial strain reaches a point of violence. Tables, appendix, and references (Published Abstract)