Murder and Medicine: The Lethality of Criminal Assault 1960-1999

• Published in: Homicide studies 2002-05, Vol.6 (2), p.128-166
• Main Authors: Harris, Anthony R., Thomas, Stephen H., Fisher, Gene A., Hirsch, David J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1088-7679; 1552-6720
• DOI: 10.1177/108876790200600203

Despite the proliferation of increasingly dangerous weapons and the very large increase in rates of serious criminal assault, since 1960, the lethality of such assault in the United States has dropped dramatically. This paradox has barely been studied and needs to be examined using national time-series data. Starting from the basic view that homicides are aggravated assaults with the outcome of the victim’s death, we assembled evidence from national data sources to show that the principal explanation of the downward trend in lethality involves parallel developments in medical technology and related medical support services that have suppressed the homicide rate compared to what it would be had such progress not been made. We argue that research into the causes and deterability of homicide would benefit from a “lethality perspective” that focuses on serious assaults, only a small proportion of which end in death.