Patterns and Trends in Elder Homicide Across Race and Ethnicity, 1985-2009

Abstract

In this report, we assess total and race/ethnicity-disaggregated patterns and temporal trends in elderly homicide (age 55-74) compared with younger age groups for the 1985-to-2009 period. To do this, we use California arrest statistics that provide annual homicide figures by race and ethnicity (including a Hispanic identifier) and by age. Major aims of our analysis are to establish whether (a) elderly homicide rates are different/similar across race/ethnic comparisons; (b) the elderly share of homicide and age-homicide distributions more generally differ across race/ethnicity; and (c) elderly rates of homicide and the share of elderly homicide relative to younger age groups is similar or different now as compared with 20 to 30 years ago. Our analysis is important and timely because some commentators have suggested that elderly homicide levels have been rising over the past one to two decades and because there is a virtual absence of research of any sort on elderly homicide trends that involve comparisons by race and ethnicity. Key findings are that elderly shares of homicide offending relative to younger ages have not increased (or decreased), that elder homicides continue to account for a small fraction of all homicides, and that these patterns persist across race/ethnicity comparisons.

Low self-control, gender, race, and offending in late life

“…Although the aging-out process from criminal activity appears to operate similarly across gender and race (Sweeten et al, 2013), research suggests that there are still race gaps in offending at older ages (Feldmeyer & Steffensmeier, 2013). Also, research reveals that males offend at a higher rate than females as they grow older (see, e.g., Giordano, Cernkovich, & Rudolph, 2002).…”

“…Participant age was measured in years (range = 60-99 years old). Respondents' ethnic and racial background were accounted for with the dummy variables Hispanic (1 = yes; N = 59) and African-American (1 = yes; non-Hispanic, N = 125; non-Hispanic whites serve as the omitted category, N = 1726; Feldmeyer & Steffensmeier, 2013;Steffensmeier, Feldmeyer, Harris, & Ulmer, 2011).…”

Special Issue on Elderly Homicide

“…The article by Feldmeyer and Steffensmeier (2013) is different from other articles in this issue in that it focuses on elderly homicide offenders. The research fills an important gap by evaluating patterns of elderly homicide over time and across race/ethnic populations.…”

Ideological Victimization

“…Disaggregated by sex, victimization risk for females, when compared with males, is higher after the age of 50 and also when younger than 5 (Jordan et al, 2010). When examining trends across race and ethnicity, elderly populations of Whites and Asians have a lower homicide risk compared with similar Black, Hispanic, and Native American age group populations (Feldmeyer & Steffensmeier, 2013).…”