A Multilevel Multivariate Analysis of Factors Affecting Homicide Clearances

There exist two competing perspectives regarding the factors affecting homicide clearances. Black’s theory of law (1976) argues that police may use some discretion in clearing homicide cases based on the social characteristics of victims and the areas in which the crime occurs. Conversely, Marvin Wolfgang (1958), Gottfredson and Hindelang (1979), and David Klinger (1997) argue that homicide is the most serious crime and all police work equally diligently to clear every case, regardless of who the victim is or where the crime occurs. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling (HGLM) of multilevel Chicago data from 1989 to 1991 are used to test the competing hypotheses. Consistent with previous research, results indicate a lack of support for Black’s theory of law in the context of homicide clearances, with a few noticeable exceptions. Cases with Latino victims are less likely to be cleared by arrest than those with White victims and cases are more likely to be cleared in communities with higher homeowner rates. However, these results may be more indicative of the extent of useful witness information provided to police than it is of police discretion.