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Purpose – The study aims to uncover the relationship between rising temperatures, increased greenhouse gas emissions and the prevalence of lethal violence, encompassing suicides and homicides. It also sought to identify how climate change affects different economic strata in countries, notably in high and middle-income nations, and across Asia and Africa. Design/methodology/approach – This study rigorously explored the link between global climate change and lethal violence across 201 countries from 1970 to 2020. Climate change was measured using annual surface temperature fluctuations and greenhouse gas emissions, while lethal violence was estimated using data on suicides and homicides. Findings – The analysis revealed significant positive associations between escalating temperatures, heightened greenhouse gas emissions and lethal violence. These connections were evident across different economic levels and geographic regions in Asia and Africa. Originality/value – This study emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to combat human-induced climate change and mitigate its extensive negative impacts on society, particularly its association with increased violent behavior.

Ortiz-Prado, Esteban, Juan Sebastian Izquierdo-Condoy, María G. Dávila-Rosero, Jorge Vásconez-González, Ana M. Diaz, Carla E. Moyano, Vanessa Arcos-Valle, Ginés Viscor, and Joshua H. West. Reduced violence-related burden and mortality at higher altitudes: examining the association between high altitude living and homicide rates in Ecuador. High Alt Med Biol. 25:295–307, 2024. Background: Homicides are a major public health concern and a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. The relationship between altitude and homicides remains unclear, and evidence of the possible effects of living at high altitudes on homicide rates is limited. This research aimed to investigate the mortality rates resulting from various types of aggression that culminated in homicides in Ecuador and to explore potential differences associated with altitude. Methods: An ecological analysis of homicide rates in Ecuador was conducted from 2001 to 2022. Homicide cases and the population at risk were categorized based on their place of residence according to two altitude classifications: a binary classification of low (<2,500 m) and high altitude (>2,500 m), and a detailed classification according to criteria by the International Society for Mountain Medicine, which includes low (<1,500 m), moderate (1,500–2,500 m), high (2,500–3,500 m), and very high altitude (3,500–5,500 m) categories. Both crude and directly age–sex standardized mortality rates were calculated for each altitude category. Results: We analyzed a total of 40,708 deaths attributed to aggressions (ICD-10 codes X85–Y09). The total homicide rate for men was 21.29 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.55–32.37), whereas for women, it was 2.46 per 100,000 (95% CI: 1.44–3.27). Average rates across the 22 analyzed years were higher at low altitudes (men: 13.2/100,000 and women: 1.33/100,000) as compared with high altitudes (men: 5.79/100,000 and women: 1.05/100,000). Notably, the male-to-female rate difference was more pronounced at low altitudes (898%) than at high altitudes (451%). Conclusions: Our study revealed a higher prevalence of homicides in certain provinces and significant disparities in mortality rates between men and women. Although we cannot establish a direct relationship between altitude and homicide rates, further research is needed to explore potential confounding factors and a better understanding of the underlying causes for these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, research on the causes of homicides has been inconclusive, limited to specific regions or countries, and focused on a narrow range of variables. In order to expand the current literature, our objective is to identify variables that may have a significant impact on homicide rates at the regional and global levels. To achieve that goal, we utilise a panel regression model, to evaluate the effect of seven independent variables on homicide rates across four different regions in the period between 2012 and 2021. The study focuses on government effectiveness and corruption, alongside commonly used variables as inequality, unemployment, educational attainment, poverty, and urban population. Results show that the education level of a country is a significant factor that relates to global homicide rates, along with government effectiveness -a finding that holds particularly true for the Americas region- . In contrast, corruption, poverty, and unemployment have little overall impact globally and in most regions. This implies that enhancing education and institutional effectiveness may have a significant impact on reducing homicide rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Globally, Mexico is one of six countries with the highest level of firearm mortality. While previous studies have examined firearm mortality in Mexico before 2015, increases in violence since then highlight the need for an updated analysis. In this study, we examined changes in firearm-related deaths in Mexico from 2015 to 2022 and described these deaths by key demographic groups, incident location, and state of occurrence. Data came from Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI), a federal agency that collects and reports national population data. We used descriptive statistics to analyze rates, proportions, and percentage changes in firearm mortality, and we displayed temporal trends using time plots and special trends using maps. Results Firearm deaths increased in Mexico from 2015 to 2018 but slightly decreased from 2018 to 2022. Homicides presented the highest increase and the highest proportion of firearm-related deaths from 2015 to 2022. Victims were primarily males but rates among women increased at a higher proportion (99.5% vs 53.5%). One third of victims were 20–29y but rates among children and adolescents (10–9y) increased at a higher proportion. Most firearm-related deaths occurred in streets or public spaces but the percentage of incidents occurring in households have increased. State-level rates and percentage changes varied significantly. States with higher rates of firearm mortality coincide with those involving conflict among organized criminal organizations. Conclusion Firearm mortality in Mexico is a major public health burden. The epidemiology of firearm-related deaths in Mexico varies by intent, demographics, location, and states. To mitigate this challenge, multiple solutions are required.

Background: Globally, Mexico is one of six countries with the highest level of firearm mortality. While previous studies have examined firearm mortality in Mexico before 2015, increases in violence since then highlight the need for an updated analysis. In this study, we examined changes in firearm-related deaths in Mexico from 2015 to 2022 and described these deaths by key demographic groups, incident location, and state of occurrence. Data came from Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI), a federal agency that collects and reports national population data. We used descriptive statistics to analyze rates, proportions, and percentage changes in firearm mortality, and we displayed temporal trends using time plots and special trends using maps. Results: Firearm deaths increased in Mexico from 2015 to 2018 but slightly decreased from 2018 to 2022. Homicides presented the highest increase and the highest proportion of firearm-related deaths from 2015 to 2022. Victims were primarily males but rates among women increased at a higher proportion (99.5% vs 53.5%). One third of victims were 20–29y but rates among children and adolescents (10–9y) increased at a higher proportion. Most firearm-related deaths occurred in streets or public spaces but the percentage of incidents occurring in households have increased. State-level rates and percentage changes varied significantly. States with higher rates of firearm mortality coincide with those involving conflict among organized criminal organizations. Conclusion: Firearm mortality in Mexico is a major public health burden. The epidemiology of firearm-related deaths in Mexico varies by intent, demographics, location, and states. To mitigate this challenge, multiple solutions are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, firearm‐related injuries became the leading cause of death in American children. Ensuring the safe storage of household firearms is one way to reduce those deaths. Since the 1990s, states have sought to accomplish that goal through child access prevention (CAP) laws, which sanction gun owners for unsafe firearm storage. However, recent survey data suggests that these laws are not effective, as they suffer from low compliance. To compensate for these shortcomings, legislators should repeal CAP laws and devise legislation requiring gun owners residing with children to retrofit their household firearms with smart gun technology. Key points for the family law community: 4368 American children were killed by firearm‐related injuries in 2020.Only 19.9% of the firearms used in youth suicides and unintentional injuries were properly stored.4.6 million American children live in homes where at least one firearm is loaded and not locked away.The firearm industry is exempt from federal agency oversight and is largely shielded from tort liability.Child access prevention laws have had a negligible effect on firearm storage practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research was to analyze the configurational aspects of intentional homicide cases that occurred in the city of Maceió (AL) between the years 2015 and 2017. The proposed methodological design consisted of a descriptive and exploratory study with a quantitative approach, based on data provided by the Civil and Military Police of the state of Alagoas and the State Secretariat for Resocialization and Social Inclusion It was found that: homicides recorded during the aforementioned period were more frequent on weekends, during nighttime hours; Public streets were the main locations for the occurrence of these crimes, with qualitative differences associated with the victim's gender; The dynamics of criminality were described as the main motivating factor for the analyzed cases; The profiles of the victim and the aggressor show similarities in terms of gender, race, age group, and education level; Both findings corroborate those of national and international studies. The need for specialized long-term studies was also highlighted in order to identify the conditions that contribute to the sustainability of the homicide configurations identified and described in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It has been suggested that homicides in Jamaica are partly driven by conflicts among criminals over funds coming from international lottery scams; most of these funds are channeled into the country via remittances. This study aims to determine the empirical relationship between remittances and homicides in Jamaica over the period 1985–2019. Design/methodology/approach: The authors apply an error correction modelling framework while accounting for indicators of changes in socioeconomic conditions. Findings: There are two. First, the authors find from impulse response analysis of the long-run dynamics that an increase in remittances is associated with an increase in homicides, and vice versa. Second, the authors find that there is bidirectional Granger causality between remittances and homicides in the short run. Social implications: Two important implications are that policies should be strengthened to channel remittances to productive and legal investment opportunities and that greater efforts may be needed to stem the flow of funds coming from international lottery scamming and other illegal activities. Originality/value: This is the first study that examines the dynamic relationship between remittances and homicides in Jamaica from a robust statistical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyzes trajectories of rights violations at the intersections of impoverishment, racism and patriarchal violence against mothers and sisters of young Black women murdered in Ceará, a state in Northeastern Brazil. The persistence and protagonism of these women are documented through three interviews with and three field diaries of family members of murdered young women. The data was analyzed using the qualitative analysis software Atlas Ti 7.0. Three cross-cutting, dominant themes include the psychosocial impacts of poverty, the impacts of homicide on the health and social life of Black women, and violations of the rights of family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text aims to build a profile of crimes, victims and perpetrators of homicides against LGBTI+ people, through the analysis of 33 public judicial documents between the years 2000 and 2020; using the categories of a) crimes: year of prosecution, criminal classification, geography, place of occurrence, use of alcohol/drugs, cause of death and attributed motive; b) victims: sex, age, sexual or gender identity and occupation; c) victimizers: age, sex, occupation, marital status, residence and criminal organizations. The profile obtained shows that the victims were 32 years old on average, they were men, both transfeminine and homosexual identities were the main albos. Public roads in urban areas were the main places of occurrence. There was mostly collective participation, using bladed and firearms as a method of murder. The main reason attributed was the homophobic of the Maras, the perpetrators being 22 years old, single and dedicated to the area of automotive mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the criminal profile of homicide offenders in prisons across Brazil. The sample was N = 189 male participants, single-victim homicide (n = 87) and serial homicides (n = 102). Most of the sample had less than nine years of formal education and the most frequent age was 15–28. Robbery homicide was the most frequent motivation for both groups and fight/settling scores were more common in the single homicide group. Men victims were more frequent for both groups. Acquaintances (56.3%) in single homicides and unknown to the aggressor (64.4%) in serial homicides. Firearms was the main method of execution. Mental disorder was more frequent (24.5%) in serial homicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the effects of violent crime on corporate investment and financing decisions of Brazilian firms. Exploring city variation in homicides, we find that an increase in the growth rate of homicides is associated with significantly lower corporate investments, with lower labour investments, and with a higher likelihood of layoffs. Spikes in violent crime are also associated with more conservative financing policies, reflected in higher cash holdings, in lower R&D (research and development) expenditures, and in lower dividend payments. Homicides further affect investment efficiency and financing choices, decoupling investment from debt finance and profitability. Moreover, the negative association between homicides and investment is significantly stronger in smaller firms, which highlights the uneven costs of violent crime in reducing firm growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 caused a great burden on the healthcare system and led to lockdown measures across the globe. These measures are likely to influence crime rates, but a comprehensive overview on the impact of COVID-19 on crime rates is lacking. The aim of the current study was to systematically review evidence on the impact of COVID-19 measures on crime rates across the globe. We conducted a systematic search in several databases to identify eligible studies up until 6–12-2021. A total of 46 studies were identified, reporting on 99 crime rates about robberies (n = 12), property crime (n = 15), drug crime (n = 5), fraud (n = 5), physical violence (n = 15), sexual violence (n = 11), homicides (n = 12), cybercrime (n = 3), domestic violence (n = 3), intimate partner violence (n = 14), and other crimes (n = 4). Overall, studies showed that most types of crime temporarily declined during COVID-19 measures. Homicides and cybercrime were an exception to this rule and did not show significant changes following COVID-19 restrictions. Studies on domestic violence often found increased crime rates, and this was particularly true for studies based on call data rather than crime records. Studies on intimate partner violence reported mixed results. We found an immediate impact of COVID-19 restrictions on almost all crime rates except for homicides, cybercrimes and intimate partner violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of cases of child maltreatment leading to death in Iceland which is a small Nordic welfare society. The research questions were the following; 1) How many children have died in Iceland as a result of abuse or neglect during a 35-year time period? 2) What was the social context of these incidents and what were the antecedents? 3) What risk factors can be identified that might have predicted the incidents? Court reports and news media were analysed using content analyses. According to those documents, eight children died due to maltreatment by seven perpetrators in a 35-year period in Iceland. Four of the perpetrators were mothers; one was a father, one was a male day-care provider and one was a boy. The causes of death seemed to be partially related to the social context of the manslaughters. Four types of incidents were identified: a) two drownings, b) two cases of neonaticide, c) two cases of shaken baby syndrome and d) two cases of filicides. The results show that even in a small Nordic welfare society, children do die as a result of maltreatment, even though such incidents seem to be very rare.

Homicide is a prevalent cause of death among sex workers, given their increased risk of violence due to proximity to criminal activities such as drug trade and human trafficking. This study analyzes homicide data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) covering 49 US states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico from 2012 to 2020. Case inclusion criteria included: (1) manner of death of homicide, and (2) sex work‐related circumstance. Descriptive analyses examined victim and injury characteristics, suspect information, and circumstances. The study identified 321 sex work‐related homicides (54% female, 41% male, 6% transgender). Among female victims, 94% were sex workers, and 54% of their suspects were clients. Money conflicts (23%) and other crimes (30%), most often in progress, commonly precipitated homicides of female victims. Substance use problems were reported in 49% of female victims, with 25% of their suspected perpetrators reportedly using substances in the preceding hours. For male victims, 54% were clients and 9% were sex workers. Suspects in male homicides were primarily sex workers (34%) or individuals engaged in sex work‐adjacent criminal activities (36%). Money conflicts (49%), other crimes (47%) most often in progress, and sex trafficking involvement (25%) commonly precipitated homicides with male victims. Transgender sex worker victims were mostly transfeminine (94%) and non‐Hispanic black (89%). Money conflicts (78%) most commonly precipitated homicides among transgender sex worker victims. These findings can inform prevention strategies addressing underlying risk factors for persons involved in sex work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research on crime hot spots has been mostly concerned with the analyses of cross-sectional data or short-term aggregations. Less research, however, has conducted longitudinal analyses on homicide hot spots and their dynamic behavior over time. The current study assessed 5 years of Chicago homicides (2016–2020) by police beats to explore how hot spots of homicides behave, with specific attention to durability. We find that Chicago homicides spatially and temporally cluster, with analysis suggesting the emergence of seasonal, short term, and long term "durable" hotspots in Chicago. Policy implications such as police interventions and community policing and problem-solving opportunities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burned corpses are of medicolegal importance as circumstances may suggest means that are used for committing or concealing homicidal death or death occurring due to accidental causes. Postmortem burns, which may include homicidal burns (torch murder) or burns used to conceal the crime, are committed with the motive of identity destruction, transposing the cause and manner of death and destruction of evidence. The present study aimed to analyse the cases of postmortem burns in the context of the cause of death, manner of death and circumstances pertaining to death. This is a retrospective study performed in the Government Medical College & Hospital, Aurangabad (MH), India, between 1 January 2009 - 31 December 2016. Cases involving burn injuries were examined in detail by autopsy reports, toxicological analyses, crime scene investigation and police records submitted at the Institute's office. A careful examination of vitality signs of burns, soot deposition in the lower respiratory tract and the presence of other fatal injuries was performed for each case. Cases exposed to fire before death were all excluded. Similarly, bodies being charred to such an extent to prevent distinguishing the vitality of burns were also excluded. Postmortem burns were recorded in 13 cases (0.46%) of deceased bodies to cover homicides. Females were reported to be more commonly involved and more in a household environment. Head injury was the most common cause of death, followed by death due to asphyxia due to any means. The findings of the present study reinforce the fact that burning cannot always effectively destroy the evidence, hindering the perpetrator from covering up the crime. Apart from the evidence at autopsy, a transdisciplinary approach must be initiated with detailed crime scene investigation, toxicology, ascertaining the cause of death with analyses of fatal injuries and contributory data for identification of the deceased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The community police models, together with the georeferencing of crime and work focused on solving specific problems, have allowed improving indicators of attention to crime and the perception of security in cities. However, little care has been placed in these models for cooperative networks between patrols organized by districts or urban sectors, to maintain an articulated action that compensates for the scarcity of police resources and avoids over-targeting. This article analyzes the interaction between the network of police reinforcements and homicides and personal thefts in Bogotá, capital of Colombia. Exponential random graph (ERG) models, network analysis, and georeferenced gamma estimates of criminal behavior are used. At the level of the police sectors known as Commands for Immediate Attention (CAI), it is found that patrol network organization schemes are conditioned by the city's socioeconomic segregation patterns which limits the scope of the network in control of the crimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cadernos de Gestão Pública e Cidadania is the property of Fundacao Getulio Vargas, Escola Brasileira de Administracao Publica e de Empresas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Motivation: In the analysis of the relationship between the labour market and crime, the variable that comes from the labour market is generally the unemployment rate. However, there are labour market characteristics that are more significant than unemployment, such as labour informality, in the context of violent crime in low‐income and middle‐income countries. Purpose: This article aims to estimate the spatial and economic relationship between homicides and labour informality by neighbourhood in Cali, the city with the highest homicide rate currently and historically in Colombia. Methods and approach: Using administrative data and a unique survey of formal and informal labour market conditions, we estimate a Spatial Durbin Model to capture the spatial endogeneity of the relationship between homicides and the labour market in the city's neighbourhoods. Findings: The main results show evidence of the positive spatial and economic relationship between labour informality and homicides in the city's neighbourhoods. In addition, the bulk of this effect occurs in some hillside settlement neighbourhoods with characteristics associated with acute labour informality. Policy implications: We propose a social and economic development programme to improve the conditions of the informal labour market and therefore achieve a reduction in homicides in specific areas, such as city hot spots found in our spatial results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs) can address the deep roots of violence, many scholars and policymakers have assumed them to be an effective and innocuous tool to take on the issue. I argue that while CCTs may have positive economic effects, they can also trigger social discord, criminal predation, and political conflict and, in doing so, increase violence. To test this claim, I take advantage of the exogenous shock caused by the randomized expansion of Mexico's flagship CCT, PROGRESA/Oportunidades. I find that the experimental introduction of the program increased rather than decreased violence. Then, I analyze all the data compiled by LAPOP on the issue over the years. I find that, other things constant, Latin Americans are more exposed to violence and insecurity when they participate in CCTs than when they do not. These findings urge us to reconsider the effects of social programs on violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this text is to analyze the conceptions and dynamics of violence and homicides against LGBTI+ people, between 2010 and 2015 in El Salvador, which were registered in eight legal processes available to the public. The category of "hate crime" was introduced by LGBTI+ organizations to replace the category of "crime of passion". The participation of members of Maras or close to these criminal structures in the eight processes analyzed, obscured the hate motivation to kill an LGBTI+ person; limiting the generation of research hypotheses that could include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression as motivators for these homicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the 2000s onwards, Latin American cities São Paulo and Medellín experienced a significant drop in homicidal violence. Considering that the interpretations about this process are not consensual, the purpose of Reduction of Homicides in São Paulo and Medellín: What Does the Literature Say? is to reveal the two main explanatory strands, identified as institutional and criminal. For this, we have conducted a systematic literature review of papers published between 2003 and 2018 investigating the phenomenon's possible triggering factors. On the selection process of publications suitable for the methodological criteria, 66 works were identified, of which 39 refer to São Paulo and 27 to Medellín. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from three surveys before and after the 2022 mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde provide a natural experiment to assess perceptions and valuations of mass shootings. The degree of overestimation of mass shooting risks surged following these tragedies. The odds of believing that mass shooting risks exceeded other firearm homicide risks more than doubled after these shootings. More than one-third of respondents viewed mass shootings as a greater threat to themselves than other firearm homicide risks, and a similar number viewed them as a greater threat to the public. A risk–risk choice experiment examined the tradeoff rate between deaths from mass shootings and from other firearm homicides. People generally viewed prevention of deaths from mass shootings as being equivalent to preventing other firearm homicides. However, respondents who believed that mass shooting risks were a greater threat both to themselves and to the public than other firearm homicide risks treated mass shooting deaths prevented as if they were 37.5% greater than the stated amounts. Risk–risk tradeoff studies and stated preference studies more generally should account for whether respondents' perceived risk levels differ from the risk values stated in the survey. The principal manifestation of dread for mass shootings is through risk beliefs. Irrational fears may intrude on elicitation of risk preferences, making it essential to account for perceptional biases in stated preference studies of risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To evaluate if characteristics of reports of violence against women at different levels of severity are similar and to test if their prevalence is correlated at the municipal level. Methods I use data from women ages 15–49 who were killed by homicide in Brazil’s national death registry (N = 14,373), were hospitalized for aggression (N = 14,701), or were included in the medical mandatory reports of incidents of violence against women (N = 42,134) between 2011 and 2016 in select municipalities. I provide national level descriptive statistics from 2016 contrasting distributions of victims (age, education, and race) and distributions of the characteristics of the incidents (location and time of day). Then, for 63 municipalities with a high number of violent incidents, I calculate the correlation coefficients between measures of violence against women using quarterly data from 2011 to 2016. I use multiple regression of municipal characteristics at baseline to examine which factors (poverty, spending, health, and civic engagement) predict the correlation. Results Victim characteristics and incident characteristics are similar across the measures of violence at the national level. Despite these aggregate similarities, correlations at the municipal level are quite varied, ranging from − 0.69 to 0.83. I find no municipal characteristics that consistently predict these correlation coefficients. Conclusions Despite some similarities at an aggregate level, these measures of violence against women do not have consistent patterns of correlation at the municipality level. Measures of severe levels of violence against women are not good proxies for incidence of violence at less severe physical levels. Lack of correlations could be due to differences in reporting, but may also be due to differences in underlying processes that share similar victims and event characteristics.

To identify seasonal and temporal variations in daily incidence of homicides and suicides in Cali and Manizales, Colombia during 2008–2015. An ecological time series study was performed using negative binomial regression models for daily incidence of homicides and suicides; analyses were controlled for yearly trends and temporal autocorrelations. Saturdays, Sundays, December holidays as well as New Year and New Year's Eve were associated with an increased risk of homicides in both cities. Suicide risk increased during December holidays and New Year in both cities. In addition, the suicide risk increased on paydays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays in Cali, and it decreased during the Holy Week holidays in Manizales. December patterns of suicides and homicides are the opposite in each city, and between cities. The incidences of homicides and suicides are not homogeneous over time. These patterns can be explained partially by alcohol consumption and changes in people's routine activities which may modify exposure to violent circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of firearm sales and legislation on crime and violence are intensely debated, with multiple studies yielding differing results. We hypothesized that increased lawful firearm sales would not be associated with the rates of crime and homicide when studied using a robust statistical method. National and state rates of crime and homicide during 1999-2015 were obtained from the United States Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Instant Criminal Background Check System background checks were used as a surrogate for lawful firearm sales. A general multiple linear regression model using log event rates was used to assess the effect of firearm sales on crime and homicide rates. Additional modeling was then performed on a state basis using an autoregressive correlation structure with generalized estimating equation estimates for standard errors to adjust for the interdependence of variables year to year within a particular state. Nationally, all crime rates except the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–designated firearm homicides decreased as firearm sales increased over the study period. Using a naive national model, increases in firearm sales were associated with significant decreases in multiple crime categories. However, a more robust analysis using generalized estimating equation estimates on state-level data demonstrated increases in firearms sales were not associated with changes in any crime variables examined. Robust analysis does not identify an association between increased lawful firearm sales and rates of crime or homicide. Based on this, it is unclear if efforts to limit lawful firearm sales would have any effect on rates of crime, homicide, or injuries from violence committed with firearms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Sociologia e Política is the property of Revista de Sociologia e Politica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The safety of tourists is of great importance in tourism-oriented countries such as Croatia, and the most serious threat to tourists is homicide. This paper examines the factors that have led to the homicides of foreign tourists in Croatia. For this analysis, the routine activity theory approach and its three key elements are used: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. As there is no official data on crimes against foreign tourists in Croatia, the analysis was conducted using data from the media. The data for the analysis were collected using a questionnaire with 18 variables that can be divided into three groups: offender characteristics, victim characteristics, and the circumstances of the offence. The analysis showed that three factors had the strongest influence on the commission of foreign tourists' homicides: they got into disputes with unknown or little-known people; they consumed alcohol with people they did not know well; and they were alone in an unknown environment, far from the police or other people who could help them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Salud UIS is the property of Universidad Industrial de Santander and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)