For information on homicide cases in the United States,
go to the Department of Justice Web Page
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/homtrnd.htm

For information on age patterns in homicide cases in the United States,
go to the Department of Justice Key Facts at a Glance Web Page
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/teensoani.htm

For information on U.S. homicides involving weapons,
go to the Department of Justice Key Facts at a Glance Web Page
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/weapons.htm

Information and Resources
For additional information on homicide, visit one of the following Web sites:

Bureau of Justice Statistics Website: Homicide Trends in the U.S.
This site contains a series of charts that describe homicide patterns and trends in the United States since 1976 including demographics, special groups, location and other categories.

Available at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/homtrnd.htm

Homicide Research Working Group
The Homicide Research Working group's objectives are to encourage more efficient sharing of techniques for measuring and analyzing homicide; to promote improved data quality and the linking of diverse homicide data sources; and to generate a stronger working relationship among homicide researchers.

Available at: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/NACJD/HRWG

Vehicular Homicide
A Brief Overview of Massachusetts Vehicular Homicide Law

Vehicular Homicide While Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drugs and While Operating To Endanger	Mandatory minimum 2 ½ years and up to 15 years in state prison or mandatory minimum 1 year and up to 2 ½ years in jail; plus fines*
Vehicular Homicide While Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drugs or While Operating To Endanger	Mandatory minimum 30 days and up to 2 1/2 years in jail; plus fines*
*Also loss of license

Massachusetts Vehicular Homicide Statistics (1998):

1998 alcohol-related statistics for Massachusetts
All traffic fatalities	Alcohol-related fatalities	% Alcohol-related
406	192	47.4*%
Statistics from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

National Vehicular Homicide Trends:According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA):

More than 35% of all 16-to-20 year-old deaths result from motor vehicle crashes.

37% of these motor vehicle fatalaties were alcohol-related crashes.

The troubling news: During a typical weekend, an average of one teenager dies each hour in a car crash. Car crashes are the #1 cause of death among teens.

Promising news: Since 1989, less than half of youth motor vehicle fatalities have been alcohol-related.

Vehicular Homicide Resources

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
National Office
P.O. Box 541688
Dallas, TX 75354-1688
Phone: (800) GET-MADD
http://www.madd.org/

MADD Massachusetts State Chapter
100 Concord Street
Suite 300
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-875-3736
MADD is an organization looking for effective solutions to the drunk driving and underage drinking problems, while supporting those who have already experienced the pain of these senseless crimes. National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration

Nationwide toll-free number: is888-DASH-2-DOT (888-327-4236).
www.nhtsa.dot.gov
NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. This website provides information on a wide range of motor vehicle safety topics, including alcohol-related crashes.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
http://www.state.ma.us/rmv/

State of Massachusetts Governors Highway Safety Bureau
http://www.state.ma.us/ghsb/
The Governor's Highway Safety Bureau is a state agency that uses federal highway safety funds to reduce motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries in the Commonwealth. It addresses issues such as the dangers of impaired driving, the benefits of safety belts and child restraint seat use, the hazards of speeding, as well as bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian safety. The Bureau is an agency under the Executive Office of Public Safety.

Firearm Deaths
Homicides are most often committed with guns, especially handguns. For a national view of homicides committed with a gun, see the U.S. Department of Justice Homicide Trends Webpage at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/weapons.htm

Homicides are not the only tragedies involved with gun violence. Accidental and suicidal gun deaths are an equally troubling problem. As reported by Join Together, "Suicides have accounted for more than half of the annual gun deaths, but it is the American homicide rate involving handguns that makes the U.S. internationally unique. In 1996, for instance, handguns were used to murder 30 people in Great Britain, 106 in Canada, 15 in Japan, and 9,390 in the U.S." The Good News: Firearm deaths for children and teens dropped significantly between 1997 and 1998.1 The Troubling News: In 1998, 3,792 children and adolescents under age 20 died from firearms. This translates into 10 firearm deaths of children and adolescents under age 20 per day in 1998. 1 If the tendency of recent years continues, (firearm fatalities increased by 24.4 percent between 1985 and 1994), firearm fatalities will become the nation's leading cause of injury-related death by 2003 (Join Together).

Gun Violence Prevention Resources
For more information on gun violence prevention, visit one of these organizations online:

Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/search.htm

Join Together
http://www.jointogether.org/gv