They can be misinterpreted until you do more research. ;) Here is a snippet on the methodology for the homicide statistics:
"Homicide as defined here includes murder and nonnegligent manslaughter which is the willful killing of one human being by another. Excluded are deaths caused by negligence, suicide, or accident; justifiable homicides; and attempts to murder. The classification of this offense is based solely on police investigation, as opposed to the determination of a court, medical examiner, coroner, jury, or other judicial body."
(see http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/addinfo.htm for a plethora of information regarding additional information regarding the data)
For the percentage of homicides that are cleared, see:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/cleared.htm
cheers,
david
Samuel W. Heywood wrote:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/viort.htmThe statistics at the above URL could be easily misinterpreted because many homicides are not crimes.A killing of a human committed in self defense or by accident is a homicide, but under those circumstances the homicides are not crimes. Whether such homicides would be ruled accidents or self-defense cannot be determined until after all the hearings and trials are all said and done. The homicide statistic is entered *before* the case is adjudicated. After the case is adjudicated, the statistics are not modified accordingly to reflect only those homicides which are crimes. Sam Heywood
