From tribune.usask.ca!freenet.carleton.ca!cunews!daemon Thu Jan 27 08:42:48 1994 Newsgroups: ncf.newspaper.statscan.daily Path: tribune.usask.ca!freenet.carleton.ca!cunews!daemon From: /CENTRAL.U157036 Subject: Homicide in Canada 1992 Message-ID: <940127.09092444.068897@ADMIN.CP6> To: statscan-daily@cunews.carleton.ca Really-To: statscan-daily@cunews.carleton.ca Sender: daemon@cunews.carleton.ca Organization: Carleton University Date: Thu, 27 Jan 1994 14:09:00 GMT Approved: news@cunews.carleton.ca Lines: 124 Police departments reported 732 homicides in 1992, a 3.2% drop from 756 in 1991. The homicide rate per 100,000 population in 1992 was 2.7, slightly higher than the average rate for the last 10 years (2.6) but lower than the peak rate of 3.1 reported in both 1975 and 1977. Historically, homicide accounts for a very small portion (0.2%) of all violent crime (i.e., homicide, attempted murder, sexual assault, non-sexual assault, and robbery). Over the past decade, the homicide rate in the United States has been three to four times that in Canada. In 1992, almost 24,000 homicides were reported in the United States, a rate of 9.3 per 100,000 population. Since 1983, the homicide rate has increased by 12% in the United States, while it has dropped 2. 9% in Canada. Weapon used Firearms were the most common method used (34%) against victims in 1992, followed by stabbing (29%) and beating (21%). Of the homicides where a firearm was used, 52% involved handguns in 1992, 50% in 1991, 41% in 1990, and an average of 30% in the previous 10-year period. Correspondingly, the use of rifles and shotguns decreased to 37% in 1992, lower than the 10-year average of 59%. Other types of firearms used to commit homicides in 1992 included: sawed- off rifles and shotguns (6%) and fully automatic firearms (5%). These data confirm a recent trend. The use of handguns to commit homicide is increasing compared with previous years. Note to users Homicide data for 1992 was released in August 1993. Today's Juristat report describes the nature and extent of homicides, characteristics of victims and the accused, and recent trends at the national level. The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics in close cooperation with police departments has been collecting homicide statistics since 1961. In Canada, homicide is classified as first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, or infanticide. Deaths caused by criminal negligence, suicide, accidental homicide, or justifiable homicide are not included in the definition. Provinces and territories Data for 1992 continued to follow an established pattern: homicide rates in the Atlantic provinces were lower than those in Quebec and Ontario, which in turn were lower than rates in the Western provinces. British Columbia recorded the highest provincial homicide rate per 100,000 population for the second consecutive year. In 1992, except for Saskatchewan and Alberta, all provinces reported rate decreases from the previous year. The Northwest territories reported 13 homicides during 1992, which included nine victims of an explosion at the Royal Oak Mine in Yellowknife. Census metropolitan areas (CMA) In 1992, 62% of all homicides occurred in one of Canada's 25 census metropolitan areas (i.e., urban cores of at least 100,000 population), while these areas represented 65% of the total Canadian population. The majority (82% ) of homicides occur-ring within CMAs in 1992 were reported by urban centres with populations of 500,000 or greater. CMAs with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 reported a further 12% of the homicides, while the remaining 6% occurred in communities with popula-tions of 100,000 to 249,999 persons. The homicide rates for the three CMA group sizes decreased as the community size decreased: 2.8, 2.4, and 2.1 respec-tively (see Table). For rural Canada and communities under 100,000 population, the combined homicide rate was 2.6. In 1992, for 19 of the 25 CMAs, the homicide rate decreased or remained unchanged from 1991. It is important to note that percentage change in homicide rates within a CMA can be affected dramatically particularly in the smaller areas by increases and decreases in the small numbers of homicides reported. Victim/accused relationship Of homicides in which an accused was identified in 1992, 84% were committed by persons known to the victim either an acquaintance (52%) or a relative (32%). The remaining 16% of homicides were committed by a stranger. Strangers are feared, yet the data indicate far less likelihood of a murder occurring at the hands of a stranger than at the hands of someone known to the victim. Approximately 55% of female victims were killed by a family member, compared with 20% of male victims. Another 38% of female victims and 60% of male victims were killed by an acquaintance. Seven percent of female victims were killed by strangers, compared with 20% of male victims. Spousal homicides accounted for 17% of total solved homicides in 1992. Eighty- four women were killed by their husbands and 16 men were killed by their wives in 1992. Commission during another offence Almost one-half (274) of all homicides in 1992 occurred during commission of another criminal offence. Of these, 188 homicides were committed during another violent offence: 82 during an assault; 53 during a robbery; 32 during a sexual assault; 8 during a kidnapping and 13 during other violent offences. A further 40 homi-cides occurred during the commission of a property offence, 31 during a drug offence and 15 occurred in combination with other types of criminal offences. Location Sixty percent of homicides occurred in private residences: 28% took place in the victim's home, 21% in a joint victim-accused residence, 6% in the accused's home, and 5% in another private resi-dence. Another 38% occurred in a public place. For the remaining 2% of homicides, the location was unknown. The Vol. 14, No. 4 issue of Juristat Service Bulle-tin: Homicide in Canada, 1992 (85-002, $3.60/$65) is now available. The annual publication Canadian Crime Statistics, 1992 (85-205, $39) is also now available, as is the Vol. 14, No. 3 issue of Juristat Service Bulletin: Canadian Crime Statistics, 1992 (85-002, $3.60/$65). See "How to Order Publications". Available on CANSIM: tables 00160401 to 00160405. For further information on these data, contact Information and Client Services (613-951-9023 or toll-free in Canada 1-800-387-2231), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.