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Profile Of A Dead
Man
There is much debate these days about
profiles and how they are used. Law enforcement
officials claim that profiles are necessary to fight
crime, especially since the events of September 11,
2001. Civil liberties groups claim that profiling
unfairly spotlights innocent people based on
demographics as a whole rather than individuals.
However, there is one form of profiling that we can talk
about that should be tough to argue against on either
side of the coin. Let's talk about the profile of
a dead person and more specifically the profile of a
dead person in Gwinnett County Georgia. These
people were not picked random. They are from actual
cases of homicide that have occurred during the
past three and one half years.
As you probably have heard by now, we have
had a tremendous increase in our homicide rate this
year. In fact, we have already had more murders
this year, than we had in all of last year. There are
many factors that have caused this increase. Population
increases, crime trends, and the economy, among other
things, surely have something to do with this alarming
rate. But, what about the people who are being
killed? Is there a common denominator that led these
unfortunate people to their earthly demise? Based on
those questions, I decided to take a closer look at not
only those who had been killed but how they had been
killed. The results were based on all homicides that had
occurred in Gwinnett County in the years 2000, 2001,
2002, and the mid of July 2003. Some of the results were
surprising and some were what I had expected. Either
way, here is what I found out.
Since January 1, 2000, we have had 82
people who were victims of homicide in Gwinnett County.
Of those victims, the percentage of Hispanic homicide
victims has risen from 15% in 2000 to 43% in the first
half of 2003. In contrast, the percentage of white
homicide victims has decreased, from 35% in 2000 to only
14% in 2003. African-American victims have
remained about the same, with there percentages rising
from 32% in 2000 to 36% mid-2003. A few other victims
are represented by either Asian-American, Indian, or
bi-racial, but their numbers were not significant enough
to illustrate any trends.
The average age of our victims has changed
considerably during this study period. Those under the
age of 15 have declined steadily since 200 going from
25% down to just 4% this year. On the contrary, the rate
for those victims who are in the 26-30 year age group
has jumped off the charts. This group has increased from
10% in 2000 up to 43% at only the mid-point of 2003. As
to the victims sex, males have always dominated the
numbers. While we have had female victims, the
percentage in 2000 was 55% male, in 2001 it was 58%
male, and in 2002, the rate rose to 81% male. So far
this year, the rate is at 73% male.
Regarding the cause of death, the results
are about what would be expected. Firearms remain the
weapon of choice for would be murderers. During the
years of 2000 to July of 2003, 75% of all deaths were
caused by firearms. Other causes of death were
results of knife wounds, bodily injury, suffocation and
fire, but were at minimal numbers.
So what do these figures tell us? In
theory, as a region goes through change, most often
those who are most affected by crime are those who
represent the majority of the demographic change that
has occurred. Quite frankly, if you are a Hispanic
male, between the age of 26 and 30 years, and you are
near someone with a firearm, you should be very careful.
That is not to say that we all should not exercise due
caution. But, for this particular group and for this
particular period of time, at least according to the
numbers, they appear to be at the greatest risk. There
is an old saying that statistics do not lie. They may be
stretched and bent in one way or the other, but for the
most part, they are what they are. Simple numbers that
represent 82 people that no longer live on this Earth.
Unfortunately friends, as they say in court; that is the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!
072503
For further information, visit www.voice4victims.com
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If you are interested in having Mr. Hall speak at your next club or group meeting, please email contact information to: SHall
BadgeNotes@aol.com
Archive
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Stan Hall is the Director of the Victim Witness Program for the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office. He is also the host of the Gwinnett County Communication Network's television show "Behind the Badge."
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