NCJ Number
67995
Date Published
1977
Length
106 pages
Annotation
THIS NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HOMICIDE ANALYSIS REPORT CONTAINS STATISTICS ON HOMICIDE VICTIMS, VICTIM-PERPETRATOR RELATIONSHIPS, HOMICIDE PERPETRATORS, AND RECIDIVISM FOR 1977.
Abstract
HOMICIDES DECREASED FROM 1,622 TO 1,557, AND THE RATE OF HOMICIDES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS DROPPED SLIGHTLY TO 19.7, PLACING NEW YORK CITY 8TH IN THE HOMICIDE RANKING FOR THE 10 LARGEST CITIES. MANHATTAN HAD THE HIGHEST HOMICIDE RATE OF THE 5 BOROUGHS WITH 37.4 HOMICIDES PER 100,000 INHABITANTS. A TOTAL OF 39.8 PERCENT OF HOMICIDES OCCURRED IN RESIDENCES. THE LARGEST NUMBER OF HOMICIDES (186) WAS RECORDED FOR DECEMBER AND THE LEAST (82) FOR FEBRUARY. OVER HALF OF THE HOMICIDES REPORTED OCCURRED BETWEEN 8 P.M. AND 3 A.M. WITH THE PEAK HOUR BETWEEN 9 P.M. AND 10 P.M. YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE 26-TO-30-YEAR BRACKET ACCOUNTING FOR 18 PERCENT OF THE 1977 TOTAL AND MALES ACCOUNTING FOR OVER 80 PERCENT OF ALL VICTIMS. A TOTAL OF 41.8 PERCENT OF VICTIMS HAD DETECTABLE LEVELS OF ALCOHOL, NARCOTICS, OR BOTH IN THEIR BLOOD AT THE TIME OF DEATH. IN 47.9 PERCENT OF HOMICIDES REPORTED, 65.5 PERCENT INVOLVED PEOPLE WHO HAD A PRIOR RELATIONSHIP TO THE MURDERER. INTRAFAMILY MURDERS INCREASED TO 12.7 PERCENT IN 1977 OR A RATIO OF ONE VICTIM IN EVERY SEVEN BEING KILLED BY A FAMILY MEMBER. JUVENILE HOMICIDE PERPETRATORS (7 TO 15 YEARS) SHOWED AN ARREST INCREASE FROM 3.1 PERCENT IN 1976 TO 4.2 PERCENT IN 1977. ALTERCATIONS CONTINUED TO BE THE CAUSAL FACTOR IN 58.2 PERCENT OF THE IDENTIFIABLE CASES. OF THE 134 ELDERLY HOMICIDE VICTIMS (60 AND OVER), OVER 54.1 PERCENT WERE KILLED DURING THE COMMISSION OF A ROBBERY. IN ADDITION, OF THE 910 PERPETRATORS, 438 (OR 41 PERCENT) WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 25. FIREARMS WERE STILL THE CHIEF TYPE OF WEAPON USED, WITH 56 PERCENT OF ALL CASES RECORDING DEATH BY GUNSHOT WOUNDS, REPRESENTING A 5.6 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 1976. OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND OVER 70 PERCENT OF THE PERPETRATORS HAD CRIMINAL RECORDS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. IN ADDITION, VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS WITH PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORDS WERE ARRESTED MOST OFTEN FOR DRUG CRIMES. THERE WERE 51 PRIOR ARRESTS FOR MURDER AMONG THE 1977 PERPETRATORS AND 39 PRIOR ARRESTS FOR MURDER AMONG THE VICTIMS. LISTS OF SOURCES AND CONTRIBUTORS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)