In the lat­est National Crime Victimization Survey, the Bureau of Justice Statistics report­ed that the U.S. mur­der rate for 2003 was about 5.6 per 100,000 per­sons, unchanged from 2001 and 2002. Of the vic­tims of mur­der, approx­i­mate­ly 49% were white and 49% were black. (DPIC note: While the report found that the race of vic­tims is even­ly split nation­al­ly, vic­tims in death penal­ty cas­es are most­ly white (about 81%)). In mur­der cas­es, 76% of the offend­ers were known to the vic­tim, and 24% of offend­ers were strangers. Firearms were used in 71% of mur­ders and homi­cides were most­ly intrara­cial (vic­tim and offend­er of same race). The most cit­ed cir­cum­stance lead­ing to mur­der was an argu­ment (28%). Read the full report. (Bureau of Justice Statistics Criminal Victimization, 2003, (September 2004)). Even though the 2001 – 2003 mur­der rate remained steady, death sen­tences con­tin­ued their five-year decline in 2003. See Deterrence and Race.

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