When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

New Jersey

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in New Jersey was 1.24 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 33rd highest in the United States

Age

Four female homicide victims (eight percent) were less than 18 years old, and six victims (12 percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Twenty-eight female murder victims were white, 21 were black, and two were Asian or Pacific Islanders.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (50 cases), nearly four out of 10 female homicide victims (19 victims or 38 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Nearly nine out of 10 of these gun victims (17 victims or 89 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 12 females killed by bodily force and 11 killed with knives or other cutting instruments. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

In cases in which the relationship between the victim and the offender could be identified (43 cases), more than nine out of 10 female victims (41 victims or 95 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only two female victims (five percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, 41 percent (17 victims) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 17 female intimates murdered, 29 percent (five victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (39 cases), 79 percent (31 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 74 percent (23 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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