NCJ Number
196613
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2002 Pages: 228-239
Date Published
August 2002
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article discusses seasonal patterns and risk factors associated with child homicide.
Abstract
Discussing a winter peak for infant and toddler homicides and a summer peak for primary and middle school child homicides, this article describes various risk factors involved in child homicide rates. After briefly describing how general homicide rates tend to rise in the summer and fall in the winter, the authors indicate that child homicides follow a different annual cycle. Connecting child homicide rates with various cyclical risk factors, this article examines Supplementary Homicide Reports from 1976 to 1998 in order to describe annual child homicide cycles. Categorizing homicides by their occurrence during the four seasons, the researchers analyze homicide data rates from March through May, June through August, September through November, and December through February. Results indicate that child homicide risk increases for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers during the winter season and increases for primary and middle school children and adults during the summer season. Arguing that their findings support developmental risk theory, the authors suggest that winter homicide risk for infants and toddlers is related to deficient nurturing during the winter months, while primary and middle school child homicide risk, during the summer, is related to extended periods of lax adult supervision coupled with longer periods of children playing outside, unsupervised. 3 Tables, 3 figures, 22 references