Factors considered in conducting the study were Houston's economic downturn in the late 1970's and much of the 1980's, the ethnic mix of the city's population, the diverse demographic makeup of the city's police force, and the use of illegal drugs. Homicide data between 1984 and 1994 indicated Houston's overall homicide rate was approximately three times the national rate. The proportion of homicides committed with handguns decreased from 63 to 54 percent during the 1990-1994 time period. Drug- related incidents likewise decreased, from 38 to 26 percent of total cases. The rate of domestic homicide incidents remained relatively flat between 1984 and 1994 at 12 percent. About 60 to 80 percent of all homicide cases were cleared by arrest between 1990 and 1994. Additional study is planned to evaluate the sociocultural dynamics of urban homicide risk and the criminal justice role in the disposition of lethal violence. 4 references and 4 figures