Grant Support: National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, NIH (# P20MD002286). Gun-Related Homicides: A Public Health Issue Greta Hart-Hyndman RN, MSN, FNP

My Interest in Gun-Related Homicide … Increasing number of young black male victims and offenders over the past five years A few of the victims as well as the offenders were friends or acquaintances of family members Many speculations but no reliable data

Review of Literature Healthy People 2010 indicates that homicide is especially high among African American and Hispanic youth. Healthy Virgin Islands 2010 also focuses on injury and violence prevention. Homicide is the leading cause of death for young persons aged 15 to 24 and the leading cause of death for African Americans in this age group

Blacks in the contiguous US and in the USVI are disproportionately affected by gun-related homicides. (Violence Policy Center, 2009; St. Thomas Source, 2010) US black homicide rate per 100,000 in 2006 USVI homicide rate – 42 per 100,000 in % of US homicide victims killed with handguns

The impact of homicide is a public health problem (Rutherford A, Zwi AB, Grove NJ, Butchart A, 2007; Mercy JA, Butchart A, Rosenberg ML, Dahlberg L, Harvey A. 2008) Communities are wounded emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically by homicide. Homicide devastates and unhinges the lives of family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and acquaintances of the murdered victim (Sampson, 2003; Armour, MP, 2002).

Statement of Research Purpose The purpose of this study is to describe trends specific to gun violence in the United States Virgin Islands.

Research Questions What are the characteristics of homicide victims and perpetrators? What are the main motives for homicide in the USVI? Which month of the year is the deadliest? What if any is the relationship between the victims and offenders of homicide?

Methodology Sample will consist of gun-related homicide victims for Data will be collected from published reports and police narratives Evidence tables will be constructed –Gender, Age, Race, Motives, Month of Incident, Victim/Offender Relationship, etc.

Data Analysis Frequencies will be calculated and the data will be cross tabulated. Pearson X 2 test will be used to determine any level of statistical significance.

Outcomes Data will provide the basis for: –Future interventional study –Policy & program decisions and development with reference to crime prevention in the USVI

My Journey as a CERC Research Scholar Very gratifying thus far Exposure to local and national researchers as facilitators and mentors Oral presentations to local and national audiences Encouragement to further educational studies Delighted that I took the challenge of participating in research activities with CERC

References Violence Policy Center (2009). Black Homicide Victimization in the United States: An Analysis of 2006 Homicide Data Mortenson, D (2010). Drugs, Gangs and Guns Fueling Caribbean-wide Crime Surge. St. Thomas Source, Jan. 12.) Rutherford A, Zwi AB, Grove NJ, Butchart A (2007). Violence: a priority for public health? (part 2). J Epidemiol Community Health, 61(9): Harvey, A. (2008) Preventing violence in developing countries: a framework for action. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 15(4): Sampson, Robert J.( 2003). The Neighborhood Context of Well-Being. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. Volume 46, Number 3, Summer 2003, pp. S53-S64. Armour, MP. (2002). Experiences of Covictims of Homicide: Implications for Research and Practice Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. Vol. 3, No. 2, Department of Health & Human Services, Healthy People Vol. 1: Washington, D.C.,2000. St. Thomas Source online news paper (2005-present) United States Virgin Islands, Department of Health - Office of Minority Health: Healthy Virgin Islands 2010: Improving Health for All Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: March 2003