The patterns and prevalence of mass murder in twentieth-century America

Author: Duwe G
Publication: Justice Quarterly
Topics: Crime Homicide U.S./National Mental Health
Keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY HOMICIDE mass murder trend
Bibliographic information +

The author examines the epidemiology of mass murder in the United States during the twentieth century, using New York Times reports for the cases between 1900 and 1975 and the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports for cases between 1976 and 1999. Significant mass murder waves began in the 1920s and 30s, and in the mid-1960s. Mass murder of fellow family members was more prevalent before the 1970s. Until the 1960s, mass murderers were older, more suicidal, and less likely to use firearms. The author finds that the only new type of mass murder is the drug-related mass killing.