The Homicide Rate, Essay Example

Discuss the homicide rate. Give an example

Homicide rates and statistics are normally quoted as per 100,000 people/per year. The ten year average (1987-1996) homicide rates for the United States averaged 8.8.  “From the mid 1960’s to late 1970’s the number of slayings shot up” (Karmen, 2009).  This being partly attributed to the teenage years of the baby boomer period coupled with the social unrest at that time.  The chart to the right illustrates the homicide statistics for the USA from 1900 to 2010 It shows a decline in the period of 1990 to 2005 with an increase in trend to 2010.  Brazil is amongst the highest per capita murder country according to the Economist magazine “Brazil, which The Economist (19-June-1999) cited as having a murder rate of about 23, with the highest percentage (88%) of murders being committed by firearms in the world.” (Best, 2010).