title: A 28-year (1963-90) study of homicide in Marion County, Oregon.
abstract: We describe 240 consecutive homicidal deaths that occurred in Marion County, Oregon, over a 28-year period (1963-90). An epidemiological assessment of the homicides yielded the following information: More than 91% of these deaths were primary homicides. In primary homicide, 63% of the victims and 88% of the offenders were male. In secondary homicide, 76% of the victims and all of the offenders were male. A high percentage of victims (83%) and offenders (84%) in primary homicide were Caucasian, as were 100% of victims and offenders in secondary homicide. About 12% of victims and 10% of offenders in primary homicide were Hispanic. Fifty-nine percent of primary homicides were intrasexual, as compared to 87% of secondary homicides. An intraracial pattern was found in 90% of primary homicides and in 100% of secondary homicides. The most frequent means of death in both primary and secondary homicides were firearms, physical beating, and stabbing. Strangers committed 80% of secondary homicides. This was in marked contrast to the victim-offender relationship found in primary homicides, where strangers were responsible for approximately 16% of the total, acquaintances for approximately 36%, and family members for approximately 48%. The overall clearance rate (i.e., the identification and charging of a suspect for the death) was 88%.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Medical Examiner for Marion County, Oregon.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Batten
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Penn
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D009922:Oregon; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide; D044465:White People