Honor-Related Suicide in the United States: A Study of National Violent Death Reporting System Data

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. However, very little information exists as to the circumstantial factors associated with IPH during pregnancy. We conducted a descriptive study of the demographic characteristics, psychosocial service engagement, and crises experiences (i.e., life and relationship stressors) among pregnant and nonpregnant victims to understand what differences, if any, exist in their risk profile for IPH. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) were used for this study. The NVDRS is a national opt-in tracking system of all violent deaths in the United States. Pregnant victims ( N = 293) were significantly more likely to be 5 years younger than nonpregnant victims, African American, and never married. Pregnant victims were more likely to be seen in the emergency room following the fatal incident. Nonpregnant victims ( N = 2,089) were significantly more likely to have suspected alcohol use at the time of their death. In strictly proportional terms, we also observed higher rates of mental health problems, a history of mental health treatment, and a reported history of intimate partner violence (IPV), crisis, or family problems among nonpregnant victims. A wider range of IPH-related risk factors (e.g. substance abuse) need to be included IPV assessments. Future studies should seek to develop effective interventions to prevent IPH, particularly among reproductive aged women.

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Correlates of law enforcement suicide in the United States: a comparison with Army and Firefighter suicides using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System

Police Practice and Research ◽

10.1080/15614263.2018.1443269 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 64-76

Author(s):

Karl A. Roberts

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Law Enforcement ◽

Reporting System ◽

The United States ◽

Violent Death ◽

Using Data

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Descriptive Epidemiology of Homicides With Victim and Suspect Race or Hispanic Ethnicity Discordance in the United States: Analysis of National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) 2005-2015

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260519861656 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 088626051986165

Author(s):

Cara L. Frankenfeld ◽

Timothy F. Leslie

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Reporting System ◽

National Level ◽

The United States ◽

Romantic Partners ◽

Violent Death ◽

Hispanic Ethnicity ◽

Race Ethnicity

Cross-racial violence is a high-profile issue in the United States; however, there is little empirical research on the epidemiology of cross-racial homicides. The objective of this work was to use national-level data to evaluate the characteristics of homicides in which the victim and suspect are of the same or different race or Hispanic ethnicity. Victims and suspects from National Violent Death Reporting System data (2005-2015) were classified into seven-categories on the basis of race/ethnicity (six non-Hispanic races or Hispanic ethnicity), and 51,454 homicide events were classified as concordant (same race or ethnicity), discordant (different race or ethnicity), or unknown (missing race or ethnicity or no suspect information). While discordancy was observed to be similar across all race and ethnicity groups, it was less likely with relatives, romantic partners, and relatives of romantic partners; less likely to occur at home; less likely to occur in intimate partner violence–related homicides; less likely when the homicide was preceded by an argument over money or property; less likely when the homicide was associated with a family problem; more likely among rival gangs and strangers than other known person relationships; and more likely with drug-involved homicides. There were differences for victims of non-Hispanic Black race. Notably, discordance was more likely for justifiable self-defense and more likely with victim having used a weapon. These results suggest that discordant homicides may follow patterns of peer groups and close relationships in society regardless of victim race/ethnicity, that is, individuals may form closer relationships with individuals of the same race/ethnicity.

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Unintentional firearm deaths in the United States 2005–2015

Injury Epidemiology ◽

10.1186/s40621-019-0220-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sara J. Solnick ◽

David Hemenway

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Reporting System ◽

The United States ◽

Violent Death ◽

Older Children ◽

Narrow Scope ◽

Final Count ◽

Firearm Safety ◽

Single State ◽

Detailed Nature

Abstract Background Unintentional gun death occurs four times more often in the United States than other high-income countries. Research on these deaths typically has a narrow scope. We believe this is the first study describing the circumstances of these deaths in the United States that covers more than a single state or municipality. Methods We use data on all unintentional firearm fatalities in the sixteen states reporting to the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for all years 2005–2015. Our final count of unintentional firearm deaths in these states and years is 1260. The detailed nature of the data allows us to categorize and compare the circumstances of the incident. Results We estimate 430 unintentional firearm fatalities in the United States per year. The rate is highest for older children to young adults, ages 10 to 29, and the vast majority of the victims are male. Common circumstances include playing with the gun (28.3% of incidents), thinking the gun was unloaded (17.2%), and hunting (13.8%). The victim is suspected to have consumed alcohol in nearly a quarter of the deaths and in 46.8% of deaths among those aged 20–29. Conclusions Certain circumstances, such as consuming alcohol, playing with the gun, and hunting, are common settings for unintentional firearm deaths. Firearm safety instructors, firearm manufacturers, and firearm owners can all contribute to preventing these deaths.

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Differences Between Sexual and Nonsexual Homicides of Women in the United States: Findings From the National Violent Death Reporting System

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211064289 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 088626052110642

Author(s):

Natasha F. De Veauuse Brown ◽

Ashley E. N. Watson

Keyword(s):

Law Enforcement ◽

Reporting System ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

The United States ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Violent Death ◽

Substance Abuse Problem ◽

Sexual Homicide ◽

Correctional Programs ◽

System Data

Sexual homicide (SH) is the most severe outcome of sexual violence and disproportionately affects women. While SH is rare (<1% in the U.S.) and gravely understudied, it is among the most violent, feared, and well publicized forms of murder. Thus, examining predictors is pertinent to identifying targets for prevention and response efforts. Secondary analysis of 2015–2018 National Violent Death Reporting System data on 6461 female homicide victims age 20–64 was conducted to determine if SH represents a unique killing characterized by specific offender, victim, and incident profiles. Law enforcement and coroner/medical examiner narratives were reviewed to identify cases with sexual elements ( N=324). Logistic regression estimated odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Findings highlight important differences between SH and non-SH. SH victims were more likely to be single (AOR=1.7, p=.006), have a substance abuse problem (AOR=1.4, p=.04), or engaged in prostitution (AOR=10.4, p<.001). SH suspects were more likely to be male (AOR=2.5, p=.04), use an illicit substance in the preceding hours (AOR=1.6, p=.03), or had recent contact with police (AOR=1.6, p=.01). SH was more likely to occur in a hotel/motel (AOR=3.0, p=.002), by asphyxiation (AOR =13.38, p<.001), be perpetrated against an acquaintance (AOR=1.64, p=.007), or be precipitated by another serious crime (AOR=2.1, p<.001). Findings advance our understanding of SH victim, suspect, and incident profiles, which can help to better inform police/investigative practices and crime prevention strategies/interventions as well as to improve how SH cases are managed in correctional programs for offenders who have the opportunity for release back into society.

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