Juvenile Homicide Victimization: Differences and Similarities by Gender

• Author: Lisa R. Muftić,Rebecca D. Moreno
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204010368235
• Published date: 01 October 2010
• Date: 01 October 2010
• Subject Matter: Articles

Research Note

Juvenile Homicide

Victimization: Differences

and Similarities by Gender

Lisa R. Muftic

´

1

and Rebecca D. Moreno

2

Abstract

Despite the growth in juvenile homicide over the last several decades, there is a limited body of

literature devoted to its study. Most of this research has focused on juveniles who kill as

opposed to juveniles who are killed. Even less is known about potential gender patterns as they

relate to juvenile homicide victimization. The proposed study attempts to address this gap in the

literature by examining potential gender differences related to individual, suspect, and offense

characteristics as they relate to juvenile homicide victimization. Specifically, the authors propose

that victim gender affects who (demographics), how (offender and weapon), when (month, day,

and time), and why (motive) juveniles are killed. Official data pertaining to 360 homicide incidents

from 1986 to 1997 (involving 289 male and 71 female juvenile homicide victims [JHVs]) drawn

from the Dallas Police Department’s homicide files are used to explore this claim. Findings

presented suggest that there are important contextual differences related to juvenile homicide

victimization that are largely gendered in nature. Implications from these findings as well as

limitations and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Keywords

juvenile, homicide, victims, gender

Introduction

It has been well documented that since the mid-1980s, homicide has become a serious problem in the

United States and is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents (Snyder & Sickmund,

2006; Uniform Crime Report [UCR], 2008). Despite the growth in juvenile homicide over the last

several decades, there is a limited body of literature devoted to its study. Noticeably, most studies

focus on juveniles as homicide offenders (Cheatwood & Block, 1990; Cornell, 1993; Heide &

Solomon, 2009; Loeber, Pardini, et al., 2005; Loper & Cornell, 1996; Loper, Hoffschmidt, & Ash,

2001; Roe-Sepowitz, 2007, 2009), while relatively few studies are directed at juveniles as homicide

1

Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA

2

University of North Texas, Denton, USA

Corresponding Author:

Lisa R. Muftic

´, Department of Criminal Justice, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St. SE, Room 1223, Urban Life Building,

Atlanta, GA 30303, USA

Email: lmuftic@gsu.edu

Youth Violence and JuvenileJustice

8(4) 386-398

ªThe Author(s) 2010

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DOI: 10.1177/1541204010368235

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