This indicator reflects the number of children whose deaths were determined to be a result of a homicide committed by a current or past family member or caregiver, or whose deaths were precipitated by acts of family violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed at the deceased.
This indicator is presented as a rate per 100,000 persons within the population of children age 0–17, for each year, in each locality. These data are presented as three-year rolling averages in order to address particularly high annual variation in familial child homicide rates. These rates are analyzed retrospectively, therefore the most up-to-date data will still be a few years behind.
Source: Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Surveillance Project, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), Virginia Department of Health
*Data maps show the most recent year of data available.
Notes:
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) determines whether a death is the result of a homicide based on a medicolegal death investigation. Homicide differs from the legal definition of murder: any death caused by an injury due to the intentional actions of another is considered homicide. For this indicator, the Family and Intimate Partner Surveillance Coordinator compiled a list of all child homicides (victims aged 0–17) in Virginia, as identified through newspaper reports, and evaluated each case for inclusion based on the involvement of a family or caregiver relationship. Out-of-state deaths resulting from fatal injuries inflicted in Virginia are also included.
Additional information about indicator data and data limitations can be found at: http://www.fact.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Data-Guide.pdf
Data Last Updated: November 21, 2018