NCJ Number
129088
Journal
Sociology and Social Research Volume: 75 Issue: 2 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 73-79
Date Published
1991
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Variations in regional homicide rates are examined. From 3,133 counties in the United States for the years 1979 to 1982, an analysis of variance was used to determine if the South and its subregions continue to manifest significantly different homicide rates from that of the rest of the country.
Abstract
Results show that when it comes to county homicide rates, the South now stands alongside the West against those counties in the Northeast and North Central States. County homicide rates contribute to a higher mean homicide rate for those States of the West; but, it is not significantly different from that found in the South. A determination should be made as to what structural or cultural characteristics the South and West share or differ on. Also, the context of homicide including offense attributes, offender, and victim traits should be examined more thoroughly. The Northeast and North Central regions should be considered against the South and West in an effort to ascertain why the former have persistently lower rates of homicide. The concern for regional aspects of violence has to take a different approach if it is to contribute to a meaningful understanding of current levels of violence. 4 tables and 32 references