Reevaluation of published research on racial bias in criminal sentencing, and data on execution rates (1930-67) and death sentencing rates (1967-78), contradict a hypothesis of overt discrimination against Black defendants. One possible explanation of relatively lenient sentencing of Black defendants is the devalued status of Black crime victims.…

Data from Florida from 1976-77 show that those accused of murdering Whites are more likely to be sentenced to death than those accused of murdering Blacks. If victim's race is controlled, however, data do not clearly support the hypothesis that defendant's race is strongly associated with imposition of the death penalty. (Author/GC)

Over a 10-year period, 96 children (age 0-14) were victims of homicide in Sweden, an average annual rate of 0.6 per 100,000 children. Most homicides were intrafamilial in nature. Cases of child abuse by a parent and cases of sexual abuse among the homicide victims were infrequent. (Author/JDD)

Examines youth murders in Brazil, including victim-generating sociostructural situations and creation of victims. Hypothesizes that modern Brazilian social structures shape poor Brazilian youth's vulnerability to murder by strangers. Presents statistics dealing with the gender distributions, age, skin color, and mode of death, identifying…

Examined cases of attempted nonfamily abductions, to determine child and family characteristics that may serve as risk factors for such incidents. The prevalence and risk-marker findings from this study reinforce the need to continue teaching "stranger danger" and suggest that children living in stressful or unstable family environments…

We evaluated the extent to which aggressive victims show unique developmental pathways that are different from those of passive victims, bullies, and uninvolved children. A total of 1,722 children were followed from 4th grade to 6th grade, and the prevalence and stability of each group were assessed. Aggressive victims became less prevalent and…