Homicide in Greenland 1985-2010

Martin R Christensen; Asser H Thomsen; Christian B Høyer; Markil Gregersen; Jytte Banner

doi:10.1007/s12024-015-9729-x

Homicide in Greenland 1985-2010

Martin R Christensen, Asser H Thomsen, Christian B Høyer, Markil Gregersen, Jytte Banner

Section of Forensic Pathology

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Homicide in Greenland has not often been investigated. The latest published study documented a dramatic rise in the homicide rate from around 1/100,000 inhabitants to more than 23/100,000 inhabitants from 1946 to 1984. The aim of our study was to characterize homicides in Greenland from 1985 to 2010 and to compare trends during this period with those in previous studies and with homicide characteristics in Denmark, northern Europe, and other Arctic regions. Methods: We identified a total of 281 homicides by legal definition and 194 by medical definition, the latter from the years 1990 to 2010. We procured case files for a total of 129 victims (71 male, 58 female) and 117 perpetrators (85 male, 32 female). Results: We identified an overall decrease in the homicide rate during our study period. The decrease in the medical homicide rate was significant (p = 0.007). The homicide rate ranged from 25/100,000 inhabitants to 13/100,000 inhabitants when results were grouped within 5-year periods. There were significantly more male perpetrators (p < 0.001) and among female perpetrators there were significantly more male victims (p < 0.001). Sharp force and gunshot-related killings dominated homicide methods (41 and 29 % respectively), with sharp force deaths increasing throughout the investigation period. Altercations were the main motive (49 %). Alcohol-related homicides decreased in our study period. Conclusions: While the Greenlandic homicide rate has decreased, it is markedly higher compared to that seen in Denmark and northern Europe. However, it resembles the rate seen in the rest of the Arctic. Liberal gun laws do not affect the proportion of gun-related killings. Despite the high homicide rate, women account for almost half the victims.

Translated title of the contribution	Drab i Grønland 1985-2010
Original language	English
Journal	Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
Volume	12
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	40-49
Number of pages	10
ISSN	1547-769X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-015-9729-x
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2016

Keywords

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Homicide
Homicide characteristics
Greenland
The Arctic
Victim
Perpetrator

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s12024-015-9729-x

NUNA MED 2013
Christensen, M. R. (Participant)
2013 → …
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation of and participation in conference

Færre drab i Grønland
Christensen, M. R.
28/04/2016
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media

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title = "Homicide in Greenland 1985-2010",

abstract = "Purpose: Homicide in Greenland has not often been investigated. The latest published study documented a dramatic rise in the homicide rate from around 1/100,000 inhabitants to more than 23/100,000 inhabitants from 1946 to 1984. The aim of our study was to characterize homicides in Greenland from 1985 to 2010 and to compare trends during this period with those in previous studies and with homicide characteristics in Denmark, northern Europe, and other Arctic regions. Methods: We identified a total of 281 homicides by legal definition and 194 by medical definition, the latter from the years 1990 to 2010. We procured case files for a total of 129 victims (71 male, 58 female) and 117 perpetrators (85 male, 32 female). Results: We identified an overall decrease in the homicide rate during our study period. The decrease in the medical homicide rate was significant (p = 0.007). The homicide rate ranged from 25/100,000 inhabitants to 13/100,000 inhabitants when results were grouped within 5-year periods. There were significantly more male perpetrators (p < 0.001) and among female perpetrators there were significantly more male victims (p < 0.001). Sharp force and gunshot-related killings dominated homicide methods (41 and 29 % respectively), with sharp force deaths increasing throughout the investigation period. Altercations were the main motive (49 %). Alcohol-related homicides decreased in our study period. Conclusions: While the Greenlandic homicide rate has decreased, it is markedly higher compared to that seen in Denmark and northern Europe. However, it resembles the rate seen in the rest of the Arctic. Liberal gun laws do not affect the proportion of gun-related killings. Despite the high homicide rate, women account for almost half the victims.",

keywords = "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Drab, Gr{\o}nland, Offer, Gerningsmand, Arktis, Homicide, Homicide characteristics, Greenland, The Arctic, Victim, Perpetrator",

author = "Christensen, {Martin R} and Thomsen, {Asser H} and H{\o}yer, {Christian B} and Markil Gregersen and Jytte Banner",

year = "2016",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/s12024-015-9729-x",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

pages = "40--49",

journal = "Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology",

issn = "1547-769X",

publisher = "Humana Press",

number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Homicide in Greenland 1985-2010

AU - Christensen, Martin R

AU - Thomsen, Asser H

AU - Høyer, Christian B

AU - Gregersen, Markil

AU - Banner, Jytte

PY - 2016/3/1

Y1 - 2016/3/1

N2 - Purpose: Homicide in Greenland has not often been investigated. The latest published study documented a dramatic rise in the homicide rate from around 1/100,000 inhabitants to more than 23/100,000 inhabitants from 1946 to 1984. The aim of our study was to characterize homicides in Greenland from 1985 to 2010 and to compare trends during this period with those in previous studies and with homicide characteristics in Denmark, northern Europe, and other Arctic regions. Methods: We identified a total of 281 homicides by legal definition and 194 by medical definition, the latter from the years 1990 to 2010. We procured case files for a total of 129 victims (71 male, 58 female) and 117 perpetrators (85 male, 32 female). Results: We identified an overall decrease in the homicide rate during our study period. The decrease in the medical homicide rate was significant (p = 0.007). The homicide rate ranged from 25/100,000 inhabitants to 13/100,000 inhabitants when results were grouped within 5-year periods. There were significantly more male perpetrators (p < 0.001) and among female perpetrators there were significantly more male victims (p < 0.001). Sharp force and gunshot-related killings dominated homicide methods (41 and 29 % respectively), with sharp force deaths increasing throughout the investigation period. Altercations were the main motive (49 %). Alcohol-related homicides decreased in our study period. Conclusions: While the Greenlandic homicide rate has decreased, it is markedly higher compared to that seen in Denmark and northern Europe. However, it resembles the rate seen in the rest of the Arctic. Liberal gun laws do not affect the proportion of gun-related killings. Despite the high homicide rate, women account for almost half the victims.

AB - Purpose: Homicide in Greenland has not often been investigated. The latest published study documented a dramatic rise in the homicide rate from around 1/100,000 inhabitants to more than 23/100,000 inhabitants from 1946 to 1984. The aim of our study was to characterize homicides in Greenland from 1985 to 2010 and to compare trends during this period with those in previous studies and with homicide characteristics in Denmark, northern Europe, and other Arctic regions. Methods: We identified a total of 281 homicides by legal definition and 194 by medical definition, the latter from the years 1990 to 2010. We procured case files for a total of 129 victims (71 male, 58 female) and 117 perpetrators (85 male, 32 female). Results: We identified an overall decrease in the homicide rate during our study period. The decrease in the medical homicide rate was significant (p = 0.007). The homicide rate ranged from 25/100,000 inhabitants to 13/100,000 inhabitants when results were grouped within 5-year periods. There were significantly more male perpetrators (p < 0.001) and among female perpetrators there were significantly more male victims (p < 0.001). Sharp force and gunshot-related killings dominated homicide methods (41 and 29 % respectively), with sharp force deaths increasing throughout the investigation period. Altercations were the main motive (49 %). Alcohol-related homicides decreased in our study period. Conclusions: While the Greenlandic homicide rate has decreased, it is markedly higher compared to that seen in Denmark and northern Europe. However, it resembles the rate seen in the rest of the Arctic. Liberal gun laws do not affect the proportion of gun-related killings. Despite the high homicide rate, women account for almost half the victims.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Drab

KW - Grønland

KW - Offer

KW - Gerningsmand

KW - Arktis

KW - Homicide

KW - Homicide characteristics

KW - Greenland

KW - The Arctic

KW - Victim

KW - Perpetrator

U2 - 10.1007/s12024-015-9729-x

DO - 10.1007/s12024-015-9729-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26603045

SN - 1547-769X

VL - 12

SP - 40

EP - 49

JO - Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology

JF - Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology

IS - 1

ER -

Homicide in Greenland 1985-2010

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Activities

NUNA MED 2013

Press/Media

Færre drab i Grønland

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