Homicide offending by age, gender, and race, 1976-2005
Four charts: one each for white males, black males, white females, and black females
White males chart
Line chart with three lines for white males ages 14-17, 18-24, and 25+.
For white males ages 14-17, the homicide offending rate began at 10.9 in 1976 and rose to 11.2 in 1977. Then the rate decreased, reaching 10.9 in 1978, before rising to 13.9 in 1980. It then fell to 10.0 in 1984, before increasing to 24.9 in 1994. After 1994, the rate decreased to a low of 7.7 in 2003, before rising to 8.7 in 2004. Then it fell to 7.9 in 2005.
For white males ages 18-24, the homicide offending rate began at 21.0 in 1976 and increased, reaching a high of 32.9 in 1991. The rate then decreased to a low of 22.4 in 2005.
For white males ages 25 and older, the homicide offending rate began at 8.9 in 1976 and rose, reaching 11.4 in 1980. Then the rate decreased to 5.3 in 2000, before increasing to 5.6 in 2004. Then it fell to 5.5 in 2005.
Black males chart
Line chart with three lines for black males ages 14-17, 18-24, and 25+.
For black males ages 14-17, the homicide offending rate began at 80.6 in 1976 and fell to 70.0 in 1978. After 1978, the rate rose to 83.8 in 1980, before decreasing to 52.8 in 1984. After 1984, it rose to 253.1 in 1993, before decreasing to 54.6 in 2002. Then the rate increased to 64.1 in 2005.
For black males ages 18-24, the homicide offending rate began at 180.9 in 1976 and fell to 169.9 in 1977. After 1977, the rate increased to 212.6 in 1980, before decreasing to 130.1 in 1984. It then rose, reaching 365.1 in 1991, before falling to a low of 184.9 in 2004. After 2004, the rate increased to 203.3 in 2005.
For black males ages 25 and older, the homicide offending rate began at 100.9 in 1976 and decreased to 96.3 in 1977, where it remained constant until 1978. The rate then increased, reaching 108.9 in 1980, before dropping to 36.3 in 1999. Then it rose, reaching a high of 41.8 in 2005.
White females chart
Line chart with three lines for white females ages 14-17, 18-24, and 25+.
For white females ages 14-17, the homicide offending rate began at 1.4 in 1976 and decreased, reaching 1.0 in 1980. The rate then increased to 1.5 in 1983, before falling to 0.9 in 1985. Then it increased to 1.8 in 1996, before decreasing, reaching 0.7 in 2005.
For white females ages 18-24, the homicide offending rate began at 2.5 in 1976 and rose to 2.9 in 1980. After 1980, the rate fell, reaching 2.0 in 2000, before climbing to 2.6 in 2002. Then it decreased to 2.0 in 2005.
For white females ages 25 and older, the homicide offending rate began at 1.5 in 1976 and decreased to 1.3 in 1978. The rate then increased to 1.6 in 1980, before dropping to 0.7 in 2001, where it remained constant until 2003. After 2003, it increased, reaching 0.8 in 2004, where it remained constant until 2005.
Black females chart
Line chart with three lines for black females ages 14-17, 18-24, and 25+.
For black females ages 14-17, the homicide offending rate began at 11.2 in 1976 and decreased to a low of 2.7 in 2004. The rate then increased to 4.0 in 2005.
For black females ages 18-24, the homicide offending rate began at 29.5 in 1976 and climbed, reaching 29.9 in 1977. Then the rate decreased to 27.0 in 1979, before rising to 32.6 in 1980. After 1980, it dropped to 9.8 in 2004, before increasing to 11.8 in 2005.
For black females ages 25 and older, the homicide offending rate began at 22.1 in 1976 and fell to 3.7 in 2002. The rate then increased to 4.1 in 2003, before falling to 3.9 in 2004. Then it climbed to 4.0 in 2005.