Spousal Homicide in Russia Versus the United States: Preliminary Findings and Implications

• NCJ Number: 165189
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1997) Pages: 63-74
• Author(s): E W Gondolf; D Shestakov
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, International Crime Statistics Program

Annotation

Official statistics on and scholarly reports of spousal homicide in Russia are summarized in terms of spousal homicide rates, sex ratios of spousal homicide, and circumstances of these homicides and the inclusion of attempted homicides in Russia.

Abstract

The statistics are adjusted to compensate for several methodological limitations, such as homicide misclassification, in establishing homicide data. Adjusted homicide data suggest that Russia has a higher spousal homicide rate, more female victims, and fewer shootings than the United States. Women in Russia may be 2.5 times more likely to be killed by spouses or lovers than their counterparts in the United States. The breakup of the Soviet Union and the contradictory status of women in Russia may have contributed to these findings. Future research is recommended to include homicide case reviews and perpetrator assessments to substantiate and refine the preliminary findings. 26 references and 1 table