NCJ Number
196865
Date Published
October 2002
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This presentation details a study of homicide cases in Rochester, New York, that employs a local orientation and multiple research methods.
Abstract
This presentation is part of the National Institute of Justice Research in Progress Seminar Series. The speaker, Dr. John Klofas, a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology, outlines his study of homicide in the city of Rochester. He begins by explaining that this is a unique exploration of homicide because of its local orientation, its development of meaningful data using multiple research methods, and its engagement with the local criminal justice system and the community at large. The idea for the study originated with a group called the Rochester Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI). This group of community stakeholders wanted to learn more about the homicide problem in Rochester. Dr. Klofas explained that the research team began by looking at official crime statistics and then interviewed offenders in prison to get a more complete picture of murder in this city. Their findings reveal that homicides in Rochester occur mainly in one geographical location and affect primarily young African-American men who are involved in other illegal activities, such as drug trafficking and robbery. They also found that victims and offenders tend to look alike in terms of race, age, and criminal history. The goal of the study was to develop meaningful data that could be used to initiate strategies to reduce homicides in Rochester.