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HOMICIDE AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN DADE COUNTY (FL)

NCJ Number
68473
Author(s)
W WILBANKS
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY OF HOMICIDES THAT OCCURRED DURING 1974 IN DADE COUNTY, FLA., DESCRIBES VICTIMS, VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS, OFFENDERS, AND THE CASE DISPOSITIONS FOR 265 CASES.
Abstract
A 3.5-YEAR FOLLOWUP PERIOD WAS NECESSARY TO FOLLOW EACH CASE THROUGH FINAL DISPOSITION. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, THE VARIOUS POLICE AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY, AND THE COURTS. A TOTAL OF 211 OFFENDERS WERE INVOLVED IN THE 175 CRIMINAL CASES, ALL OF WHICH WERE CLEARED. THE 265 VICTIMS REPRESENTED A RATE OF 18.7 HOMICIDES PER 100,000 INHABITANTS FOR 1974. THE HOMICIDES ARE CLASSIFIED BY TYPE; CRIMINAL (230), JUSTIFIABLE (26), AND EXCUSABLE (7). TWO CASES WERE RECLASSIFIED: ONE AS SUICIDE, ONE AS UNKNOWN. ANALYSIS OF THE 230 CRIMINAL HOMICIDE CASES SHOWS DATA REGARDING VICTIMIZATION RATES; VICTIM'S SEX, ETHNIC STATUS, AND AGE; THE WEAPON USED; THE LOCATION; THE VICTIM'S ALCOHOL LEVEL; AND THE TIME OF THE FATAL INJURY, INCLUDING THE DAY OF THE WEEK AND THE MONTH OF THE YEAR. THESE DATA ARE COMPARED IN PART WITH DATA FROM OTHER CITIES. FIGURES ARE GIVEN FOR THE NUMBER OF CASES CLEARED BY THE POLICE, AND THEY ARE COMPARED TO NATIONAL STATISTICS. FOR THE 211 OFFENDERS INVOLVED IN THE 175 CASES OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE CLEARED BY THE POLICE, DATA ARE OFFERED REGARDING OFFENDERS' SEX, ETHNIC STATUS, AGE, OFFENDER RATES FOR CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS. CASE DISPOSITIONS FROM THE 211 CRIMINAL HOMICIDE OFFENDERS INCLUDE RATES FOR OFFENDERS WHO WERE CHARGED IN JUVENILE AND ADULT COURTS AND FOR THOSE WHO WENT TO TRIAL. FINAL DISPOSITION CATEGORIES ARE BROKEN DOWN BY FINAL CHARGE AND BY SENTENCES. FINALLY, CROSS TABULATIONS OF ETHNICITY, SEX, AND AGE WITH SENTENCE LENGTH ARE COMPUTED. DIAGRAMS AND TABLES SUPPLEMENT THE TEXT. SIXTEEN REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.

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