Why isn the number of homicides in the Linked Homicide File consistent with other data sources?
As described above, the Linked Homicide File is based on Supplemental Homicide Reports. Some homicide statistics are based on death records. The two types of records differ in a couple of ways. First, law enforcement agencies submit Supplemental Homicide Reports for any homicide occurring in the state of California whether the victim was a resident of the state or not. Death records are usually reported by the victims state of residence. So, absent from this file but probably present in another would be California residents killed in another state or country. Another reason for a slight discrepancy between the two data sources may be differences in the law enforcement and death records definitions of homicide. In most cases these definitions are concordant, but not always.
