An introductory chapter provides a framework for the remaining chapters, as it presents an overview of homicide trends in the United States during the 20th century. Part II reviews the most prominent social theories of homicide. These include the social-structural perspective, cultural and subcultural theories, and sociobiological explanations of homicide. The topics of Part III pertain to a number of methodological issues that must be addressed when conducting homicide research. Chapters discuss sources of homicide data, the use of disaggregated data in homicide research, the determination of social-structural predictors of homicide, and a review of cross-national comparative studies of homicide. Part IV, which focuses on special issues in the study of homicide, considers homicide between intimate partners, serial murder, and theory and research regarding the connection between drugs (including alcohol) and homicide. The chapters of Part V deal with the manifestation of homicide among various social groups, including African- Americans, Latinos, juveniles, and gangs. Part VI contains three chapters on the prevention of homicide. They focus on the deterrence effectiveness of capital punishment and its extension to female homicide, the impact of gun control on homicides, and the public health strategy of combining action and analysis to prevent homicide. 1,040 references and author and subject indexes