Homicide Studies current issue

Intimate Partner Homicide by Presence or Absence of a Self-Destructive Act

Liem, M., Roberts, D. W. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:03:17 PST

Intimate partner homicide is not only the most common type of domestic homicide, but is also most prevalent in homicides followed by a self-destructive act (e.g., suicide or a suicide attempt). To date, very few studies have addressed this unique circumstance of intimate partner homicide, particularly in comparison to intimate partner homicides that are not followed by a self-destructive act. One possible reason for this lack of research might be that many consider homicide and suicide discrete phenomena, therefore devaluing the similarities that might exist between them. The "Currents of Lethal Violence" analogy describes homicide and suicide as two currents in a stream of lethal violence. We propose that intimate partner homicide followed by a self-destructive act mixes these currents. This study aims to assess the differences among intimate partner homicide perpetrators who did and did not commit a self-destructive act following the homicide. Descriptive and bivariate analyses of predictive variables were obtained from the records of 341 male intimate partner homicide perpetrators held at a Dutch forensic observation hospital between 1980 and 2006, of which 44 committed a self-destructive act following the offense. Perpetrators that attempted suicide were more likely to have a diagnosis of depressive illness and to have threatened suicide prior to the offense. Perpetrators in this group showed evidence of far-reaching dependency on the victim and a fear of abandonment. Further research into this area is necessary to elucidate this issue.

Stability and Change in Homicide Victim, Offender, and Event Characteristics in Chicago, 1900 and 2000

Gruenewald, J. A., Pridemore, W. A. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:03:17 PST

This study took advantage of unique historical data to explore change and stability in homicide victim, offender, and event characteristics in Chicago between two time periods, 1898-1902 and 1998-2002. Data on Chicago homicides from 1898 to 1902 were extracted from the Chicago Police Department Homicide Record Index (compiled by the Chicago Historical Homicide Project), and data from 1998 to 2002 were taken from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Supplementary Homicide Report. Odds ratios were employed to compare homicide characteristics between time periods to examine change and stability on victim (sex, race, age), offender (sex, race), and event (type of weapon, victim—offender relationship, circumstance) characteristics. The results showed significant (a) increases in the proportion of victims who were Black and aged 15-29, the proportion of offenders who were female and Black, and the proportion of family, gun, and profit-motivated homicides and (b) decreases in stranger and argument-related homicides and in the proportion of victims who were female. This study contextualizes these results by discussing how demographic, structural, and cultural changes in Chicago over the course of the 20th century might have influenced stability and change in these characteristics.

Reducing "Unknown" Data in Violent Death Surveillance: A Study of Death Certificates, Coroner/Medical Examiner and Police Reports From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003-2004

Logan, J. E., Karch, D. L., Crosby, A. E. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:03:17 PST

To better understand the determinants of violent deaths, researchers need surveillance systems that include a broad spectrum of information (e.g., victim demographics, event characteristics [date/location of death] and preceding circumstances). Missing information can limit the ability to develop preventive interventions.This study examines the value of using multiple source documents (i.e., death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, and police reports) to reduce missing or "unknown" data on violent deaths. When all sources are accessible, more sources should reduce the amount of unknown data. This study finds this to be true only for certain variables, that is, those capturing preceding circumstances.

The Great Sao Paulo Homicide Drop

Goertzel, T., Kahn, T. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:03:17 PST

The homicide rates in the city and state of São Paulo were cut in half in the years from 2001 to 2007. The decline in the city of São Paulo was especially striking and parallels the decline in New York City in the 1990s. It can be confirmed with a number of independent data sources and was significantly larger than in other Brazilian cities. The decline may be attributed to more effective policing methods including the better enforcement of strict gun-control legislation. It demonstrates that effective measures can be taken to reduce lethal crime in a developing country without waiting to solve underlying socioeconomic problems.

Homicide Patterns and Public Housing: The Case of Louisville, KY (1989-2007)

Suresh, G., Vito, G. F. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:03:17 PST

This study examines the impact of the revitalization of low-income, public housing properties on homicide patterns. It tracks the movement of homicide clusters from the initial properties to those neighborhoods where public housing residents were displaced over a 19-year period in Louisville, Kentucky. The median-income level of residents and vacant housing emerged as important predictors of homicide clusters. This article concludes that low-income public housing and Section 8 housing properties provide an environment where homicides are likely to occur. This pattern remained in effect even when the nature of public housing changed.

Book Review: Wilson, D. (2007). Serial Killers: Hunting Britons and Their Victims 1960-2006. Winchester, UK: Waterside Press. pp. 191

Lilly, J. R. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:03:17 PST

Erratum

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:03:17 PST

The article "Spatial Heterogeneity in the Effects of Immigration and Diversity on Neighborhood Homicide Rates" (DOI: 10.1177/1088767909336728), by Corina Graif and Robert J. Sampson, was published incorrectly in August 2009 issue (Volume 13, Number 3) of Homicide Studies.