HOMICIDES IN GENEVA

Abstract

Homicides are a real problem of public health at the global level. Nowadays, we see a disparity of homicide rates between different countries of the world without really understanding why and put the finger on a clear causal link. However, several factors have been identified as promoting these acts. Many studies are trying to list them and understand them, the task is far from simple because such data is not available or accessible in the same way in all countries.
This study is an epidemiological study of homicides in Geneva committed between 2002 and 2011. Through a literature review and analysis of forensic records, it addresses different aspects of homicide cases that occurred on the canton: their evolution in time, the possible influence of seasonality, the methods that have been used in crimes and the parts of the body that were most affected by the attack. It was also interested in questions of public interest of the population, to know on the one hand whether there was a link between the victim and the aggressor and if that was the case, the nature of this link, and on the other hand if the crime is perpetred by a foreigner or a swiis person. Finally, the places of aggression and death were also sought to identify areas which more risk to die by homicide. These data allow then a comparison with others foreign countries.