Random Sampling: Homicide Crime in the US - Research Paper Example

Random Sampling This is a research paper on homicide crime in the United s of America. It uses the data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to perform an analysis of homicide characteristics. The methodology is adapted from the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics. This agency conducts yearly statistics on various aspects relating to criminal justice system. Through analysis, this research has established that most homicide victims are young people under the age of 34 years. Moreover, males are three times more likely to become victims of murder than females. Again, a white and black have equal chances of becoming a homicide victim. However, the black and males are overrepresented in murder cases. Introduction Homicide is defined as a crime which involves the taking away of a person’s life by another person or people (Lyer, Levin & Ashton, 2006). The action can either be voluntary or involuntary (Cole & Smith, 2010). The FBI classifies homicides into two types based on offender’s actions namely, murder and manslaughter. However, states laws have interpretation and classification of murder case based on intensions and circumstances. For instance, in Arizona, a person who knowingly kills another person commits a first degree murder (Arizona Revised Statutes). Although the homicide rates have declined in United States of America, this type of crime remains an issue of concern to the population. The homicide rate currently stands at 4.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. This rate is relatively high when compared to other developed nations such as Switzerland and United Kingdom. A research conducted Harvard School of Public Health linked gun ownership to homicide cases in US (Harvard Injury Control Research Center). However, there are causes such as drug abuse, relationship problems and violent criminal actions. Methodology This homicide survey was conducted across the 50 states in US. Thirty thousand households were randomly selected to participate in the study. The households’ distribution per state was based on the population of that each state. This gave a reprehensive sample of 65,000 people. The participating households were notified by post card and email before the actual study was conducted. The data was collected through face to face interview with the guided by semi structured questionnaire. This process data collection process took two months. Results A table showing the number of homicides by race Race Number White 6655 Black 6587 Other 365 Unknown 139 TOTAL 13756 A table showing the number of homicides by sex Sex Number Male 10582 Female 3158 Unknown 16 TOTAL 13756 A table showing number of homicides by age structure Age Group Number Under 1 201 1-4 305 5-8 74 9-12 70 13-16 398 17-19 1250 20-24 2432 25-29 1955 30-34 1545 35-39 1221 40-44 1016 45-49 941 50-54 708 55-59 466 60-64 321 65-69 231 70-75 135 76-80 294 TOTAL 13563 Analysis Age Group x f fx Cumulative frequency Under 1 0.5 201 100.5 201 1-4 2.5 305 762.5 506 5-8 6.5 74 481 580 9-12 10.5 70 735 650 13-16 14.5 398 5771 1048 17-19 18.0 1250 22500 2298 20-24 22.0 2432 53504 4730 25-29 27.0 1955 52785 6685 30-34 32.0 1545 49440 8230 35-39 37.0 1221 45177 9452 40-44 42.0 1016 42672 10467 45-49 47.0 941 44227 11408 50-54 52.0 708 36816 12116 55-59 57.0 466 26562 12582 60-64 62.0 321 19902 12903 65-69 67.0 231 15477 13134 70-75 72.0 135 9720 13269 76-80 78.0 294 22932 13563 Total 13563 449564 Mean Age of Homicide Victims Mean = ∑fx ÷ ∑f 449,564 ÷ 13,563 33 years Median Age of Homicide Victims Median = L + Where L is lower limit of median class N is total cumulative frequency Fi-1 is cumulative frequency before median class Fi is frequency of median class 24.5 + {(6,781.5 – 4,730) ÷1955} X5 30 years Lower Quartile = L + 16.5 + {(3,390.75 -1048) ÷1,250} X3 22 years Upper Quartile = L + 30.5 + {(10,172.5-8,230) ÷1221) X5 42 years Inter Quartile Range 42 – 30 years 12 years Modal Age Mode = Midpoint of modal class 22 years Interpretation Most of homicide victims are aged between 20-24 years. The probability that a homicide victim falls in this age group is about 0.2 or 20%. A person in this age group is twice likely to be a homicide victim than a person of 60 years and above. The modal age of murder victims is 22 years. Meaning, frequent murder actions are directed to people of 22 years. The average age of murder victims is 33 years. However, in Switzerland the average age of murder victims is 36 year (Liem & Pride more, 2012). Meaning, homicide is a youth issue in US while in Switzerland, problem affects old people. The median age of homicide victims is 30 years. Meaning, 50% of murder victims are of age equal to or less than 30 years. Twenty five percent of these murder victims are aged below 22 years. In addition, 75% percent of the homicide victims are of age below 42 years. Discussion Young people account for the biggest percentage of homicide victims. About 61% of the murder victims are youths of or below 34 year of age. Most of them actually die at the age of 22 years after high school or perhaps in college. The Males are the majority victims of homicides. Approximately, 77% of murder victims are men. Meaning, a male is three times likely to become a murder victim than a female. Only 23% of the homicide victims are females. These percentages do not match with the proportion of men to women in United States. This is clear indication of overrepresentation of men in murder cases. The total percentage of murder victims from black and white races is about 96%. People from these two races have equal probability of becoming homicide victims. However, the proportion of black population in America is about 13.1 % (United States Bureau of Statistics). Hence, there is disproportionate representation of black race in murder cases. Conclusion This homicide research has revealed that there exist disproportionate representation of male and blacks in homicide crimes. Therefore, there is need for intervention targeting these two groups. Doing so will significantly lower the homicide rates in United States of America. References Arizona Revised Statutes | Rules of Criminal Procedure | Rules of Evidence. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.arizonacrimelaws.com/13_1105.htm Cole, G. F., & Smith, C. E. (2010). The American system of criminal justice. Belmont, Ca, [etc.: Wadsworth. Harvard Injury Control Research Center » Homicide. Harvard School of Public Health. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/firearms-research/guns-and-death/ Liem, M. C. A., & Pridemore, W. A. (2012). Handbook of European homicide research: Patterns, explanations, and country studies. New York, NY: Springer. Lyer, P. W., Levin, B. J., Shea, M. A., & Ashton, K. (2006). Medical legal aspects of medical records. Tucson, AZ: Lawyers & Judges Pub. Co. US Census Bureau. State and County QuickFacts. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html Read More