Victim's profile analysis reveals homicide affinity for minorities and the youth

Abstract

Abstract:Background: In this study we have examined the risk of death by homicide in Miami-Dade County and Broward County (BC); and examined the association between socioeconomic status and homicide while describing victim's typical characteristics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, and type of injury. Methods: Data was collected from the County's Medical Examiner's Offices, Census Bureau, and Federal Bureau of Investigation between 2004 and 2007. Results: There has been an increase in the risk of dying by homicide in the studied area; the homicide rate for the selected period was two times higher than the national average. Although Black Non-Hispanics count for 19% of the population of Miami-Dade County and 23% in Broward County, 56% and 53% of homicide victims are among this ethnic group in Miami-Dade County and Broward County respectively. Hispanics were more at risk of being a victim of homicide in 2007 than they were in 2004. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of the homicide victims were 22 years of age or younger. In fact, the homicide victims' average age has been steadily decreasing in recent years. The drastic increase in the risk of death by gunshot among young Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic residents warrants cause for concern.

Map of homicides by firearms: profile of the victims and the assaults

“…Another disturbing aspect of these killings is the concentration in the population of adolescents and young adults, whose rates are higher than those found for the population as a whole. This result is also found in other studies in Brazil and worldwide (3,6,9,14) in men between 15 to 39 years being the main victims, and they are also the main perpetrators of the deadly violence (15)(16) . Death in the form of homicides resulting from firearm use affects young men, which shows how much they are exposed to violence.…”

“…The experience of violence can decrease the responsiveness of the victim to the world, with loss of interest in activities, depression, apathy and trigger family problems (1) . The lives of the victims, families and friends are affected by violence, and it is clear that this topic should be relevant to the public health prevention agenda (16) . As for the health system, the consequences of violence, among others, are evident in the increase in emergency spending, assistance and rehabilitation, and much more expensive than most conventional medical procedures (11) .…”

Spatial study of homicide rates in the state of Bahia, Brazil, 1996-2010

“…a They are also the main perpetrators of homicidal violence, according to studies in Brazil and around the world. 4 , 8 , 18 , 23 …”

“…Violence changes during the course of history and presents itself in different ways according to distinct geographical, socioeconomic, political and cultural contexts. 9 , 16 , 1 7 , 23 …”

Homicídios juvenis e informalidade em um município brasileiro da tríplice fronteira Brasil, Paraguai e Argentina

“…Entender a pobreza social e, em particular, a predominância do nível de desemprego é crucial para a compreensão do fenômeno da violência juvenil em locais específicos (1). Um estudo realizado nos Estados Unidos, nos Condados de Miami-Dade e Broward, observou maiores taxas de homicídios nos grupos populacionais mais pobres e com maior número de indivíduos desempregados (30). No entanto, outros estudos não têm detectado correlação entre a taxa de mortalidade por homicídio e a taxa de pobreza, indicando que a pobreza em si não é um fator determinante, mas reflete, em algumas populações estudadas, desigualdades sociais, possível falta de acesso aos benefícios sociais decorrentes de políticas públicas e insatisfação das necessidades básicas (6).…”