BJS home page
Contents
of Homicide trends in the U.S.
Previous
Next
|
Homicide
trends in the U.S.
Justifiable homicides
The number of justifiable homicides has been declining
- Generally, the
number of justifiable homicides committed by police exceeded the number
committed by citizens.
- In the last 10 years, the number of justifiable homicides has declined
13%.
To
view data, click on the chart.
[D]
Note: Justifiable
homicides are defined as the killing of a felon by a law enforcement officer
in the line of duty or the killing of a felon during the commission of
a felony by a private citizen.
The circumstances surrounding
justifiable homicides differ for those committed by police and those committed
by citizens.
- Most justifiable
homicides by police are the result of attacks on officers.
- The most frequent circumstances cited for justifiable homicides by citizens is to disrupt
a crime while in progress or when a citizen was attacked.
To
view data, click on the chart.
[D]
Most justifiable homicides
are intraracial
- In incidents
involving citizens, three-quarters involved citizens and felons of the
same race.
- In incidents
involving police, two-thirds involved police officers and felons of
the same race.
Percent of justifiable homicides
Race of citizen who killed felon
| Race of felon |
White |
|
Black |
|
Other |
|
Total |
|
| White |
36 |
% |
3 |
% |
1 |
% |
40 |
% |
| Black |
17 |
|
40 |
|
1 |
|
59 |
|
| Other |
1 |
|
-- |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| Total |
54 |
|
43 |
|
3 |
|
100 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Race of officer who killed felon
| Race of felon |
White |
|
Black |
|
Other |
|
Total |
|
| White |
55 |
% |
3 |
% |
-- |
|
59 |
% |
| Black |
28 |
|
11 |
|
-- |
|
39 |
|
| Other |
2 |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
2 |
|
| Total |
85 |
|
14 |
|
1 |
% |
100 |
|
-- Less than 0.5%
The age distribution of the
felons killed by police is slightly older than that for felons killed
by citizens
To view data, click on the chart.
[D]
Source: FBI, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1976-2005.
See also Additional information about the data.
Note: The victims of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks are not included in this analysis.
|
