The analysis was performed on 114 counties completely or partially located on reservations. County level independent variables were obtained from the U.S. Census Subject Reports of American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts on Identified Reservations and in the Historic Areas of Oklahoma and were matched to American Indian homicide rates data obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the years 1980-1987. A 2-indicator social disorganization index, comprised of percentage of female headed American Indian households and mobility rate, was constructed to indicate the instability in the reservation communities. Similarly, an economic deprivation index was constructed and included the percentage of American Indians below the Social Security Administrations' defined poverty level, percentage of American Indians unemployed, and percentage of American Indians, aged 16 to 19 years, who are not enrolled in school and who are not high school graduates. Further analysis demonstrated that both the social disorganization index and the economic deprivation index were significant predictors of American indian homicide at the reservation county level. 1 note, 3 tables, and 32 references (Author abstract modified)