Citation

Jensen GF. Homicide Stud. 2000; 4(1): 18-36.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088767900004001002

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A common belief expressed in criminology and social problems textbooks is that Prohibition failed to lower alcohol consumption, compounded drinking-related problems, and escalated secondary problems such as murder. However, little or no research is cited in support of these claims. This article reports the results of a multivariate time series analysis of the links among Prohibition, alcohol, and murder. Eckberg's adjusted vital statistics on homicide for the early 20th century are used to test the following three hypotheses: (a) net of any effects of other variables, Prohibition is a significant negative correlate of alcohol consumption; (b) net of the effects of other variables in the analysis, Prohibition is a significant positive correlate of homicide rates; and (c) net of the effects of other variables in the analysis, alcohol consumption is a significant positive correlate of homicide rates. Findings are consistent with all three hypotheses.