Employing data from the 1992 Mortality Detail File, this research examined the effects of temporal factors on homicide victimization in the United States. Logistic regressions were fitted to all deaths occurring in 1992 by homicide. The results showed deaths from homicide versus mortality from other causes were highest on Saturday (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34, confidence interval [CI] = 1.21, 1.48), followed by Friday (OR = 1.13, CI = 1.02, 1.26) and Sunday (OR = 1.15, CI = 1.04, 1.28). Significant male and female differences were observed. Whereas for men, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were significantly related to homicide, female homicides were concentrated almost exclusively on Saturday (OR = 1.31, CI = 1.1, 1.57). The results suggest new theoretical interpretations focusing on the temporal nature of social control and private as opposed to public drinking by males.
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