Why Do Homicide Rates Vary Across the 50 U.S. States?

Author: Christopher Galante

Field of Study: Philosophy, Politics and Law

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Wendy Martinek

Easel: 28

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: This study examines why homicide rates vary across the 50 U.S. states by examining structural rather than random definitions. Social science scholarship shows that homicide is distributed unevenly and is influenced more by social conditions than policy alone. The argument is that socioeconomic inequality and firearm prevalence are the primary factors for variation. Using state-level data from the Uniform Crime Report and measures from the U.S. Census Bureau, with firearm ownership estimates from survey data, this study analyzes how these variables correlate with homicide rates. The expectations are that states with higher socioeconomic inequality and greater firearm prevalence experience higher homicide rates. These findings suggest that homicide is not just a criminal issue but is connected to broader strategies. Understanding these relations can help policies become more effective to reduce violence in states and improve public safety.