NCJ Number
212897
Journal
ICJIA Research Bulletin Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2005 Pages: 1-16
Date Published
November 2005
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This research bulletin analyzed 1,124 homicides of children aged 14 years and younger that occurred in Chicago between 1965 and 1995.
Abstract
Homicide victimization risk for young children rose steadily in Chicago during the study period, while the homicide victimization risk for people 15 years of age and older fluctuated sharply. Overall, minority children suffered higher rates of homicide victimization than non-minority children. The increase in homicide victimization risk for young children only impacted non-Latino Black boys and girls. The risk for White children remained steady over time while the Latino risk fluctuated. The long-term, steady increase in the homicide victimization risk also only occurred for children aged birth to 4 years. In terms of gender, the risk of homicide victimization increased over the 30 years for both boys and girls, but boys had a greater victimization risk overall than girls. Data were drawn from the Chicago Homicide Dataset (CHD) from 1965 through 1995, which contains detailed records on every homicide reported to the Chicago police during the study period. Future research should focus on the factors associated with particularly sharp increases in child homicides. Tables, figures, notes