Social Networks and Risk of Homicide Victimization in an African American Community

29 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2012

See all articles by Andrew V. Papachristos

Andrew V. Papachristos

Sociology; Northwestern University - Institute for Policy Research

Christopher Wildeman

Duke University - Department of Sociology; Rockwool Foundation Research Unit

Date Written: September 19, 2012

Abstract

This study estimates the association of an individual’s position in a social network with their risk of homicide victimization across a high crime African American community in Chicago. Data are drawn from five years of arrest and victimization incidents from the Chicago Police Department. Results indicate that the risk of homicide is highly concentrated within the study community: 41 percent of all gun homicides in the study community occurred within a social network containing less than 4 percent of the neighborhood’s population. Logistic regression models demonstrate that network-level indicators reduce the association between individual-level risk factors and the risk of homicide victimization, as well as improve overall prediction of individual victimization. In particular, social distance to a homicide victim is negatively and strongly associated with individual victimization: each social tie removed from a homicide victim decreases one’s odds of being a homicide victim by approximately 57 percent. Findings suggest that understanding the social networks of offenders can allow researchers to more precisely predict individual homicide victimization within high crime communities.

Keywords: social networks, homicide, neighborhoods

Suggested Citation

Papachristos, Andrew V. and Wildeman, Christopher, Social Networks and Risk of Homicide Victimization in an African American Community (September 19, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2149219 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2149219

Andrew V. Papachristos (Contact Author)

Sociology ( email )

2001 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.papachristos.org

Northwestern University - Institute for Policy Research ( email )

2003 Sheridan Rd
Evanston, IL 60208-2600
United States

Christopher Wildeman

Duke University - Department of Sociology ( email )

Rockwool Foundation Research Unit

Sejroegade 11
DK-2100 Copenhagen
Denmark

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