Darnell F. Hawkins

The Spatial Patterning of County Homicide Rates: An Application of Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis

The possibility that homicides can spread from one geographic area toanother has been entertained for some time by social scientists, yetsystematic efforts to demonstrate the existence, or estimate the strength,of such a diffusion process are just beginning. This paper uses exploratoryspatial data analysis (ESDA) to examine the distribution of homicides in 78counties in, or around, the St. Louis metropolitan area for two timeperiods: a period of relatively stable homicide (1984–1988) and aperiod of generally increasing homicide (1988–1993). The findingsreveal that homicides are distributed nonrandomly, suggestive of positivespatial autocorrelation. Moreover, changes over time in the distribution ofhomicides suggest the possible diffusion of lethal violence out of onecounty containing a medium-sized city (Macon County) into two nearbycounties (Morgan and Sangamon Counties) located to the west. Althoughtraditional correlates of homicide do not account for its nonrandom spatialdistribution across counties, we find some evidence that more affluentareas, or those more rural or agricultural areas, serve as barriers againstthe diffusion of homicides. The patterns of spatial distribution revealedthrough ESDA provide an empirical foundation for the specification ofmultivariate models which can provide formal tests for diffusion processes.

Support for New Policies to Regulate Firearms — Results of Two National Surveys

BACKGROUND New policy options are emerging in the debate regarding the regulation of firearms in the United States. These options include the treatment of firearms as consumer products, the design of which can be regulated for safety; denial of gun ownership to those convicted of misdemeanors; and strategies to curtail the illegal sale of guns. The publics opinion of these innovative gun-policy options has not been thoroughly assessed. METHODS We conducted two telephone surveys of 1200 adults each in the United States in 1996 and 1997-1998. Cognitive interviews and pretests were used in the development of the survey instruments. Potential participants were then contacted by random-digit dialing of telephone numbers. RESULTS A majority of the respondents favored safety standards for new handguns. These standards included childproofing (favored by 88 percent of respondents), personalization (devices that permit firing only by an authorized person; 71 percent), magazine safeties (devices that prevent firing after the magazine or clip is removed; 82 percent), and loaded-chamber indicators (devices that show whether the handgun is loaded; 73 percent). There was strong support for policies prohibiting persons convicted of specific misdemeanors from purchasing a firearm. Support for such prohibitions was strongest for crimes involving violence or the illegal use of a firearm (83 to 95 percent) or substance abuse (71 to 92 percent). There was also widespread support for policies designed to reduce the illegal sale of guns, such as mandatory tamper-resistant serial numbers (90 percent), a limit of one handgun purchase per customer per month (81 percent), and mandatory registration of handguns (82 percent). Even among the subgroup of respondents who were gun owners, a majority were in favor of stricter gun regulations with regard to 20 of the 22 proposals covered in the poll. CONCLUSIONS Strong public support, even among gun owners, for innovative strategies to regulate firearms suggests that these proposals warrant serious consideration by policy makers.

Explaining the Black Homicide Rate

Despite the disproportionately high rate of homicide among African-Americans, social scientists have offered few theories to explain this phenomenon. However, the absence of explicit theory has not meant that researchers have failed to consider questions of the etiology of homicide among Blacks. Implicit theory derived from traditional, liberal race relations research has been an integral part of quantitative studies of Black homicide. This article reviews and critiques these explanations for racial difference in the rate of homicide and notes the extent to which they have been challenged by recent scholars.

Black-white differences in injury race or social class?

In the United States injuries are the leading cause of years of potential life lost and the leading cause of death for persons less than 45 years of age. Minority groups, particularly African-Americans, are disproportionately represented among those persons who die as a result of injury. Homicides account for much of this racial disparity; however, other forms of injury also contribute significantly to the differential. This paper examines death rates due to four types of injuries that contribute most to the black/white mortality gap. Our examination of death rates from 1984 to 1988 reveals no major reduction in the racial gap during the period, despite the initiation of some prevention efforts. We suggest that socioeconomic status rather than race is perhaps the major correlate of the social conditions and lifestyle choices which contribute to these injuries. We propose that injury prevention efforts must target both the causes and the consequences of socioeconomic inequality.

Special issue on historical perspectives on punishment and social control

ABSTRACT This essay introduces and provides the epistemological context for a special collection of writings that explore in historical perspective the justifications and presumed logic of contemporary justice system policies. They include those bedrock practices designed for the deterrence of crime, and the sanctioning, rehabilitation and punishment of offenders.