NCJ Number
197290
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2002 Pages: 165-179
Date Published
2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article presents a test of the theory that moving away from the South reduces the risk of homicide victimization.
Abstract
Based on data from the National Mortality Detail File, this article tests the hypothesis that migrating away from the South reduces individuals’ risk of exposure to criminal offenders and lower homicide victimization levels. After introducing micro and macro level research trends connecting Southernness and homicide trends, the author argues that Southerners are more apt to violence than are non-Southerners and that Southern out-migrants are more likely to become involved in homicide incidents than are their non-Southern counterparts. Drawing on homicide data from the 1990 national mortality tapes, a zero-order correlation matrix was created. Following a presentation of the effects of Southernness and the odds of dying from homicide in table format, the author discusses this study’s findings maintaining that it is Southern-born individuals who are most likely to die of homicide, followed by migrants into the South. Arguing that this study cannot directly confirm or deny the existence of a regional culture of violence theory, this article suggests that future research using alternative data sources may present additional information and help illuminate this issue. References