Structure, Culture, and Lethality: An Integrated Model Approach to American Indian Suicide and Homicide

Abstract

Investigations of lethal violence in the United States have primarily focused on Whites and/or African Americans, generally ignoring American Indians. Interestingly, statistics indicate that homicide and suicide rates among American Indians are often higher than other racial/ethnic groups within the United States. In an attempt to understand these lethal violence patterns, the current study utilizes the integrated model of suicide and homicide to investigate the structural and cultural factors that contribute to the production and/or direction of American Indian lethal violence. Using data from the Indian Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Census Bureau, a modified lethal violence count (LVC) is used to examine the production of lethal violence among American Indians within U.S. counties as well as the suicide—homicide ratio (SHR) to unravel the etiological underpinnings of lethal violence. Findings indicate partial support for the integrated model with economic conditions and family disruption influencing these patterns of lethal violence.

The Racial-Cultural Framework

“…For instance, a Canadian study that used interrupted time-series analyses concluded that a new law on firearms restriction may have been responsible for a reduction in suicide rates (Carrington & Moyer, 1994). There is evidence that the means by which people choose to die differ across race and that certain communities of color may have preferred methods of suicide (Lainer, 2010;Lester, 1994). There is evidence that the means by which people choose to die differ across race and that certain communities of color may have preferred methods of suicide (Lainer, 2010;Lester, 1994).…”

“…Means restriction is effective because many people have a preference for a suicide method; hence, people with restricted access to a suicide means may not necessarily turn to alternative means of suicide (Daigle, 2005). There is evidence that the means by which people choose to die differ across race and that certain communities of color may have preferred methods of suicide (Lainer, 2010;Lester, 1994). Stack and Wasserman (2005) found that Black Americans were more than 2 times as likely as White Americans to use violent means of suicide (e.g., hanging and firearms).…”

Racial Differences Among Juvenile Homicide Offenders: An Empirical Analysis of 37 Years of U.S. Arrest Data

“…In an examination of a sample of 30 adult American Indian homicide offenders, Bachman (1991) reported that the majority of offenders in the sample killed with a knife (40%) and as a result of an interpersonal conflict (67%). The proliferation of knife and conflict-related homicides among American Indians may be attributed to frustration that stems from the structural disadvantage faced by many American Indians, as well as the strong culture of honor in Native American communities (Bachman, 1991; Lanier, 2010).…”

Structural Disadvantage and American Indian Homicide and Robbery Offending

“…The macrosocial research on American Indian violent crime that does exist has focused exclusively on American Indian homicide victimization (Bachman, 1991a; Lanier, 2010; Lanier & Huff-Corzine, 2006). As will be discussed in detail, American Indian homicide victimization is a weak proxy for American Indian violent offending because (a) American Indians are more likely to be victimized by individuals of another race (Greenfeld & Smith, 1999; Perry, 2004), and (b) the race of American Indians is often misclassified in coroners’ reports (Arias, Schauman, Eschbach, Sorlie, & Backlund, 2008).…”

“… 3. Lanier’s (2010) county-level analysis of violence among American Indians was not included because her dependent measures were not pure measures of violence. Her first measure combined suicide and homicide victimization, and her second measure was a ratio of homicide victimization to suicide. …”