Juvenile Homicide Victimization: Differences and Similarities by Gender

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.