Homicide in Australia 2004-2005 National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP) Annual Report

• NCJ Number: 217492
• Author(s): Jenny Mouzos; Tina Houliaras
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 71 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: AIC Research and Public Policy Series, No, 72.

Annotation

This report presents the 2004-2005 results of the National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP) in Australia, providing data on the characteristics of homicide incidents, victims, and offenders in Australia during the fiscal year.

Abstract

During fiscal year 2004-2005, a total of 249 homicide incidents were recorded that involved 286 offenders and 267 victims. The rate of homicide decreased 14 percent from the previous year, continuing the downward trend started in fiscal year 2002-2003. The majority of homicide incidents in Australia during fiscal year 2004-2005 were classified as murder (84 percent) while 11 percent were classified as manslaughter and another 5 percent were classified as infanticide. An offender was identified in all but 6 percent of these incidents. Of the 233 solved homicide incidents, 81 percent involved one-on-one interactions between the victim and the offender, 14 percent involved a single victim and multiple offenders, and 5 percent involved multiple victims. Homicides were more likely to occur on the weekends and in the days leading up to the weekends and this pattern was relatively consistent across jurisdictions. A full 70 percent of the homicide incidents occurred during the 12-hour period from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Nearly two-thirds of the homicide incidents occurred in a residential setting (63 percent), while 22 percent occurred in a street or open area. During fiscal year 2004-2005, 67 percent of homicide victims and 84 percent of homicide offenders were male. Females who were most at risk for homicide were females between the ages of birth and 4 years and between the ages of 35 to 39 years. Precipitating factors to the homicide incidents are discussed and most commonly include disagreements involving alcohol, drugs, or money for male victims and domestic altercations for female victims. Data was also presented concerning the weapons and methods of homicide incidents. The NHMP methodology is described, which includes the examination of two key sources of data: (1) police offense records from all jurisdictions, and (2) State coronial records. Footnotes, figures, tables, references