This indicator reflects the number of adults whose deaths were determined to be the result of a homicide by a current or past family member, 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 adults, age 18–64, 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 adult 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 adult homicides (victims aged 18-64) in Virginia, as identified through newspaper reports and medical examiner records, 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.
Bedford City was reincorporated into Bedford County in 2013. Bedford City will show as NA or blank from 2014 on and that data will now be captured under Bedford County.
Data Last Updated: November 21, 2018