STRUCTURAL COVARIATES OF U.S. COUNTY HOMICIDE RATES: INCORPORATING SPATIAL EFFECTS*

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.2001.tb00933.x
• Publication Date: 2006-03-07T23:18:55Z
• Authors: ROBERT D. BALLER; LUC ANSELIN; STEVEN F. MESSNER; GLENN DEANE; DARNELL F. HAWKINS
• Keywords: Homicide; Similarity (geometry)

Spatial analysis is statistically and substantively important for macrolevel criminological inquiry. Using county‐level data the decennial years in 1960 to 1990 time period, we reexamine impact of conventional structural covariates on homicide rates explicitly model spatial effects. Important findings are: (1) strongly clustered space; (2) this clustering cannot be completely explained by common measures similarity neighboring counties; (3) noteworthy regional differences are observed effects rates; (4) evidence consistent with a diffusion process South throughout 1960–1990 period.