Considering the role of structural context in the escalation of interpersonal gun violence

• In Event: Exploring the role of contextual and legal factors influencing interpersonal gun violence

Abstract

Over the past decade, research on human agency and choice has grown within the field of criminology. However, most of this research has focused on the initial decision to offend, with less of a focus on the choices made during an offense. In the current study, we extend recent models for understanding situational decision-making processes using official data to examine variation in the outcomes (i.e., non-injury, non-lethal injury, lethal injury) of interpersonal gun violence across structural contexts. Specifically, the current research uses data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the American Community Survey, among other data sources, to estimate hierarchical regression models assessing the joint impact of individual (e.g., sociodemographic), situational (e.g., the presence of co-offenders, alcohol use) and contextual factors (e.g., structural disadvantage) on behavioral outcomes, as measured by injury to the victim. The findings highlight the need to consider offender decision-making processes during incidents of interpersonal gun violence as a joint product of individual, situational, and structural influences, each of which has the potential to constrain or expand offender choice sets, thereby increasing or decreasing the likelihood of violent outcomes.

Authors

• Marin R. Wenger, Florida State University

• Brendan Lantz, Florida State University

• Emma Fridel, Florida State University