Temporal clustering of homicide among urban 15- to 24-year-old white and black Americans.
Temporal clustering of homicides among 15- to 24-year-old black and white Americans was studied in 22 heavily urbanized counties in the United States from 1979 through 1985. Thirty-eight million people, including 37% of black Americans and 14% of white Americans, lived in these densely developed countries. The pattern of white male homicide deaths was cyclical--that is, statistically significant excesses were observed on weekends and on national holidays. The pattern of black male homicide deaths was much less cyclical. But homicide deaths of black males were disproportionately likely to occur in a pattern of single days with multiple homicides as well as in periodic spikes, lasting less than a week, during which many homicides occurred. Implications for research and policy are discussed.
Greenberg
M
M
Department of Urban Studies and Community Health, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, NJ 08903.
Naus
J
J
Schneider
D
D
Wartenberg
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006693:Holidays; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010507:Periodicity; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012106:Research; D013029:Space-Time Clustering; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*