EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY OF HOMICIDES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

• NCJ Number: 57637
• Journal: American Journal of Epidemiology Volume: 106 Issue: 4 Dated: (1977) Pages: 314-324
• Author(s): J P CONSTANTINO; L H KULLER; J A PERPER; R H CYPRESS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Johns Hopkins University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA CONCERNING HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, 1966-1974 ARE GIVEN.

Abstract

DATA WERE OBTAINED RETROSPECTIVELY FROM THE RECORDS OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA. CORONER'S OFFICE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT. ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIBING PERPETRATORS AND VICTIMS WERE ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL. RATES OF HOMICIDE PEAKED IN THE YOUNG ADULT YEARS OF LIFE. THE RACE RATIO, BLACK TO WHITE, AMONG VICTIMS WAS 18.7 FOR MALES AND 6.7 FOR FEMALES, WHILE SEX RATIO, MALE TO FEMALE, WAS 5.4 FOR BLACKS AND 1.9 FOR WHITES. AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RATE OF HOMICIDE AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WAS PRESENT AMONG BOTH BLACK AND WHITE RACES. SIXTY-SIX PERCENT OF VICTIMS WERE KILLED BY A SPOUSE, RELATIVE, OR FRIEND, USUALLY IN FAMILIAR LOCATIONS, I.E. RESIDENCE OR PLACE OF WORK (60 PERCENT), AND USUALLY DURING AN ALTERCATION (68 PERCENT). SHOOTING WAS THE METHOD USED TO PERPETRATE 61 PERCENT OF THE KILLINGS, MOST OF WHICH WERE BY MEANS OF A HANDGUN. AN INCREASING TREND OF HOMICIDE WAS NOTED, PARTICULARLY OF THE TYPE PERPETRATED BY SHOOTING. TABLES, FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)