Homicide Studies

Purpose and Aspiration of the Journal
Comprehensive Focus
Interdisciplinary Scope
Contents of Issues
Special Issues of Homicide Studies
About the Editor
Submission Guidelines
Subscription Information

Purpose and Aspiration of the Journal

Homicide is among the most frequently addressed topics in the study of crime. Yet, no comprehensive forum existed through which researchers and practitioners from various disciplines could share their knowledge. Consequently keeping abreast of contemporary developments was difficult.

Homicide Studies: An Interdisciplinary & International Journal is a journal providing a central forum for the diverse literature on homicide. The premier issue of this quarterly, peer-reviewed academic journal appeared in February 1997. Published by Sage Publications and sponsored by the Homicide Research Working Group, Homicide Studies is a high-quality, multidisciplinary publication devoted to the dissemination of information concerning research, public policy, and applied knowledge pertinent to the study of homicide.

Comprehensive Focus

Homicide Studies is essential reading for academic researchers, people involved in law and practice and those involved in the development and evaluation of public policy. The journal publishes a wide range of current scholarship relating to homicide, including such topics as:

The effects of capital punishment in deterring homicides
Projected psychological profiles of serial killers and the match to actual offenders
Feminist theories of homicide
Cross-cultural and/or international comparisons of homicide research findings
Analyses of trends in homicide offending and victimization
The correlation between child abuse and homicidal tendencies
Evaluations of support groups for family members of homicide victims
Assessment of brain injury through child abuse among convicted homicide offenders
Determining predictors of lethal violence among couples with histories of domestic violence
Differentiating the dynamics of homicide and non-lethal assaults
Investigative techniques that enhance probabilities of offender identification
Methodological problems posed by decreasing homicide clearance rates

Interdisciplinary Scope

Because the study of and work in homicide crosses a wide range of fields, there was a very compelling and immediate need to establish a comprehensive focus through which to report on and explore the issues. Bridging the gap between academic and practitioner, as well as between different disciplines, was and remains a core goal of Homicide Studies. Only through the sharing of knowledge and expertise are we able to better understand homicide. Through achieving this goal Homicide Studies presents you with a diversity of perspectives, including:

criminology
psychology
forensics
social work
nursing

criminal justice
public health
medicine
geography
political science

sociology
public policy
anthropology
law
history

Contents of Issues

Special Issues of Homicide Studies

Homicide Studies has featured a number special issues that are currently available.

The first special issue commemorates the 40th anniversary of Marvin Wolfgang's Patterns of Criminal Homicide (Homicide Studies, Volume 2, Number 3, August 1998). Rick Rosenfeld served as guest editor of this issue.
The second special issue focuses on Femicide (Homicide Studies, Volume 2, Number 4, November 1998). Jacquelyn Campbell and Carol Runyan served as guest editors for this special issue.
The third special issue highlights Violent Serial Offending (Homicide Studies, Volume 4, Number 3, August 2000). Thomas A. Petee and John Jarvis were guest editors of this issue.
The fourth special issue addresses Homicide Research in Europe (Homicide Studies, Volume 5, Number 4, November 2001). C. Gabrielle Salfati was guest editor for this special issue.
Two special issues addressed the Regional Subculture of Violence (Homicide Studies, Volume 7, Number 4, November 2003 and Homicide Studies, Volume 8, Number 1, February 2004). Karen F. Parker was guest editor for these special issues.
The most recent special issue focuses on Missing Data (Homicide Studies, Volume 8, Number 3, August 2004). Marc Reidel and Wendi Regoeczi are the guest editors for this special issue.

About the Editor

Gary F. Jensen is Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at Vanderbilt University. He has previously held faculty appointments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Arizona. He served as editor of the newsletter for the Crime, Law and Deviance section of the American Sociological Association in 1999, and as Associate Editor of the American Sociological Review from 1996 through 2000. He has authored numerous articles and books, including The Path of the Devil: Early Modern Witch Hunts (2006: Rowman and Littlefield).

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be empirically based, using quantitative or qualitative methods. Theoretical papers, research summaries, and public policy reviews are also welcomed. Manuscripts should not exceed 30 typed, double-spaced pages including references, tables, and figures. References must conform to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition). All artwork must be camera-ready. Authors should include their name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone number, and if available, e-mail address. Each manuscript should include an abstract and biographical statement.

Submission of a manuscript implies commitment to publish in the journal. Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal should not simultaneously submit them to another journal, nor should manuscripts have been published elsewhere in substantially similar form or with substantially similar content. Authors in doubt about what constitutes prior publication should consult the editor.

Submit articles in triplicate to:

Gary Jensen
Editor,Homicide Studies
Department of Sociology
Vanderbilt University
VU Station B351811
Nashville, TN 37235
gary.jensen@vanderbilt.edu

Subscription Information

Membership in the Homicide Research Working Group includes a subscription to Homicide Studies.

Individual and institutional subscriptions to Homicide Studies without joining the HRWG are available. Subscription price: Institutions: $563; Individuals: $117. Please see the ordering instructions on the SAGE Publications Web site (PDF).

This journal is abstracted or indexed in:

Abstracts in Social Gerontology, Current Contents: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Current Literature on Aging
Criminal Justice Abstracts
Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin
Health & Safety Sciences Abstracts
IBZ (International Bibliography of Periodical Literature on the Humanities and Social Sciences)
NCJRS Abstracts Database
Peace Research Abstracts Journal
PsycINFO
Psychological Abstracts
PsycLIT
Risk Abstracts
Safety Science & Risk Abstracts
Sage Public Administration Abstracts
Sage Urban Studies Abstracts
Science Navigator Scopus
Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science)
Social Services Abstracts
Sociological Abstracts
Standard Periodical Directory (SPD)
Violence and Abuse Abstracts

and is available on microfilm from University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

To order Homicide Studies directly from Sage Publications, contact:

In North America, South America, and Canada:
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, U.S.A.
Telephone: (800) 818-SAGE(7243) and (805) 499-9774
Fax: (805) 499-0871

In the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and Africa:
Sage Publications, Ltd.
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London EC1Y 1SP, England
Telephone: +44(0) 20 7324-8500
Fax: +44(0) 20 7324-8600

In India and South Asia:
Sage Publications India Private Ltd.
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New Delhi 110 017, India
Telephone: (91-11) 2649-1290
Fax: (91-11) 2649-1295

As with all Sage journals, Homicide Studies is printed on acid-free paper.

Back Issues: Information about availability and prices of back issues may be obtained from Sage Publications.

If you have comments or suggestions, email the HRWG at:
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