THE DATA FOR THIS STUDY WERE COLLECTED FROM POLICE RECORDS OF THE HOMICIDE DIVISION OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE TECHNIQUE OF EXCESS INCREASE ANALYSIS WAS EMPLOYED TO ANALYZE THE DATA. THE STUDY FOUND, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT HOMICIDES HAVE INCREASED AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE; THAT THERE ARE TWO PATTERNS OF HOMICIDE (HOMICIDE AMONG FRIENDS OR RELATIONS AND HOMICIDE BASED ON ROBBERY); AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF YOUNG BLACK, MALE VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE INCREASE IN HOMICIDES FROM 1965-1973 CAN BE STATISTICALLY ACCOUNTED FOR BY AN INCREASE IN HOMICIDES USING GUNS. FINALLY, THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHICAL, RACIAL, AND SEXUAL CONCENTRATION OF THE HOMICIDE OFFENSE AMONG POOR YOUNG BLACKS AND LATINOS, THE COMMUNITY MAY BE UNWILLING TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO COMBAT THE HOMICIDE OFFENSE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)