THE GEOGRAPHY OF DESPAIR

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current high incidence of lethal violence has been underway since the mid-sixties. Black males form the primary target population. Some attempts have been made to explain the higher propensity of black participation in actions leading to homicidal outcomes. Although many explanations supporting a differential incidence of homicide have been developed, little attention has been devoted to spatial patterns associated with this differential incidence. Homicides in a three-city sample were concentrated in a few, high-risk environments, although unique differences within cities prevail.