The relationship between alcohol and homicide in America is explored both historically and theoretically, providing the groundwork for two empirical analyses. The first, a theoretical approach, leads to the development of a selective disinhibition hypothesis, the implications of which are tested in a longitudinal analysis of alcohol availability and homicide in 256 U.S. cities between 1960 and 1980. Alcohol availability was found to significantly increase homicide rates. Availability also interacted with city poverty rates, lack of social bonds, and the age structure to further increase the...

The volume explores every aspect of females who murdered--from arrest through sentencing--and provides descriptions of ecological and other circumstances of the murders, the victims, the motives of the perpetrators, and their fates in court. The generous utilization of case examples dramatically reveals the homicide scenarios.

This exploratory, descriptive study compares 296 females arrested for homicide in six urban areas--Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York City--in 1979 and 1983. During field trips to these cities, which have the highest murder rates in the...