NCJ Number
214927
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 230-260
Date Published
August 2006
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This study explored the temporal association between county-level age composition and homicide rates in the United States between 1970 and 1999.
Abstract
The results indicated that while there was a positive temporal association between the proportion young and homicide rates in U.S. counties, this relationship between age structure and homicide rates could be affected in either direction by varying socioeconomic conditions. Specifically, the strength of the relationship between the percentage aged 15 to 24 years and homicide rates was weakened in counties with low social control as measured by divorce rates and population size. Period differences were also noted in the relationship between age composition and homicide rates, with increases in the percentage young having a greater positive association with homicide rates during 1995 through 1999 relative to the 1970s and 1980s. County level data were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and data on homicide were gathered from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Supplemental Homicide Reports. Age structure was measured using two variables indicating the relative size of the population that was young: the percentage aged 15 to 24 years and the percentage aged 25 to 34 years. Data were analyzed statistically using fixed-effects models. Study limitations include the potential of omitted variables impacting homicide rates and the inclusion of data from only the large counties in the United States. Tables, figures, notes, references