Race/Ethnicity and Patterns of Chicago Homicide 1965 to 1981

Abstract

The pattern of change over time in the number of homicides in Chicago is a composite of patterns of homicides involving many segments of the population. This analysis uses time series specification to determine whether the pattern of change from 1965 through 1981 can be explained by change in homicide of one race or ethnic group. The rapid increase of the sixties is not specified by race/ethnicity; it occurred for every race and ethnic group despite differing patterns of change in their populations. The peaks in 1970 and 1974 and the increase from 1977 to 1981 occurred only for certain groups. However, no single segment of the population was responsible for the entire pattern.

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