Murder in America has fallen into a historic slump, and that’s a fact more people can live with. Murder rates have dropped to levels not seen since the mid-1960s, punctuating the end of a bloody 20th century where more than twice as many died in American homicides as U.S. troops did in wars. Among findings in BJS’ comprehensive examination of 507,681 murders from 1976 through 2000 (the last year in which the data have been analyzed completely): •2000 was considered a good year because criminals took "only" 15,317 lives, down by 9,000 from annual tolls just a decade before.
•Blacks make up 12.1 percent of the nation’s population but commit most of the murders and are over-represented among homicide victims. They are six times more likely to be murdered, and seven times more likely to kill.
•White criminals dominate among those executed and those waiting on death row. They most often commit serial or mass murders.
•The best way to prevent murder is to avoid arguments. They are the single leading factor that accounts for four of every 10 homicides. |