NCJ Number
168580
Date Published
1996
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This examination of homicide over a 30-year period using Uniform Crime Reports and police data from Atlanta, Georgia, found that homicide appeared to change over time in terms of clearance rates, motives, the degree of prior criminal involvement of victims and offenders, the age of victims and offenders, and the gap between black and white homicide rates.
Abstract
Between 1966 and 1970, approximately one-third of homicide offenders had no prior arrest records, while two-thirds had one or more prior arrests. Of those with a prior arrest record, the range of arrests varied from 1 to a maximum of 44 arrests. Nearly 20 percent of homicide offenders had 10 or more arrests. The image of a typical homicide offender in Atlanta was one who had several arrests for assaultive behavior, robbery, and burglary. Not all homicide victims had crime-free backgrounds; 40 percent had a prior arrest record. Homicide victims tended to be more involved in criminal activity in the 1990's than in the late 1960's. Half of the homicide offenders and 44.8 percent of the homicide victims had prior drug arrests. Homicide motives changed substantially between 1966 and 1995, and homicide in 1995 seemed to be more of an instrumental act than in 1966. 4 references, 1 table, and 11 figures