Southern states have highest murder rates in U.S

Jet, Feb 27, 1995

A new study revealed Southern states have the nation's highest homicide rates, and the United States remains the most murderous nation in the industrialized world.

According to a report released by the nonprofit Population Reference Bureau Inc., seven out of the 10 states with the highest per-capita murder rates are in the South.

The report said that Louisiana, in 1992, led all states with 18.5 murders per 100,000 people, followed by Mississippi with 17.5 murders per 100,000. The national average was 10 murders per 100,000 people.

The study, based on statistics which were compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics and the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, found murder rates rising among the elderly, minority women and preschoolers.

In 1990, the murder rate for minority children age 4 and under was 8.9 homicides per 100,000 for boys and 8.6 for girls. In contrast, the homicide rate for both sexes was 2.4 per 100,00 in 1950.

For White children, the rate increased from one to 2.7 for boys and from 1.2 to 2.1 for girls.