Editor’s Introduction

• Date: 01 February 2021
• Published date: 01 February 2021
• DOI: 10.1177/1088767920984554
• Subject Matter: Editorial

https://doi.org/10.1177/1088767920984554

Homicide Studies

2021, Vol. 25(1) 3 –4

© 2020 SAGE Publications

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DOI: 10.1177/1088767920984554

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Editorial

Editor’s Introduction

It is an honor to serve as the editor of Homicide Studies, the official publication of the

Homicide Research Working Group (HRWG). I have been an active homicide

researcher for 20 years and have closely followed the journal since the start of my

career. My research primarily focuses on the situational attributes of homicides and

how victim and offender lifestyles contribute to the occurrence of homicides. I also

examine the presentation of homicides in the news media, the factors that contribute

to their clearance and the apprehension of offenders, and the adjudication of offenders

in the courts. Homicide Studies has published research that has provided the founda-

tion for my work and is a cornerstone in my teaching.

I would like to thank the HRWG Publications Committee, Dr. Kim Davies the

President of HRWG, and the outgoing editor Dr. Jay Corzine for entrusting me to serve

in this position. I am thankful for your confidence in my ability to continue the upward

trajectory of Homicide Studies, and I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Jay and

those that served before him—Dwayne Smith, Thomas Petee, Gary Jensen, Wendy

Regoeczi, and Lynn Addington.

Homicide Studies is the leading journal for scholarship on lethal interpersonal vio-

lence and has published many important seminal works in this area. The journal has

been on an upward trajectory during the past 5 years. Its current impact factor is 1.60,

and the 5-year impact factor is 1.96. My intent as Editor is to continue this upward

trajectory in three ways. Firstly, I plan to increase the interdisciplinary representation

of Editorial Board members. During my 20-year career, I have had the privilege to

learn and work with scholars who study homicide and violence in the fields of emer-

gency medicine, injury prevention, nursing, social work, and public health. These

partnerships have elucidated the need to examine our understanding of homicides, and

the events that lead to homicides, with varying methodologies, perspectives, and

promising prevention approaches. Adding these perspectives via the appointment of

scholars who study homicide in different fields will move the journal toward a more

comprehensive approach to the study of lethal violence. Secondly, I will endeavor to

publish at least one relevant and innovative special issue a year. Thirdly, I will solicit

innovative and methodologically rigorous research for the journal.

I am looking forward to working with HRWG, the current Editorial Board, and the

incoming managing editor, Ms. Daniela Oramas Mora, to continue the upward trajec-

tory of Homicide Studies by publishing high quality, timely, and innovative research

that informs both theory and policy.

Jesenia M. Pizarro, PhD

Editor

984554HSXXXX10.1177/1088767920984554Homicide StudiesPizarro

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