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Medicolegal Characteristics of Firearm Homicides in B elgrade, S erbia: Before, During, and After the War in the Former Y ugoslavia
Author(s) -
Rancic Nemanja,
Erceg Milena,
Radojevic Nemanja,
Savic Slobodan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12217
Subject(s) - homicide , poison control , spanish civil war , injury prevention , suicide prevention , demography , criminology , violent crime , occupational safety and health , medical emergency , forensic engineering , medicine , political science , law , psychology , sociology , engineering
Abstract A comparative analysis of firearm homicides committed in B elgrade was performed including four representative years: 1987 (before the civil war in the Former Y ugoslavia), 1991 (beginning of the war), 1997 (end of the war), and 2007 (period of social stabilization). The increase in the number of homicides was established in 1991 and 1997 compared with 1987, with the decrease in 2007, but with the continuous increase in the percentage of firearm homicides in the total number of homicides, from 12% in 1987 up to 56% in 2007. The significant increase in firearm homicides during the last decade of the 20th century can be explained by the social disturbances and the high availability of firearms, while their reduction in 2007 could be linked to the gradual stabilization of social circumstances. The results showed that the actual social, political, and economical changes strongly influenced medicolegal characteristics of homicides and particularly firearm homicides.