Welcome to the Journal of Mass Violence Research

The Journal of Mass Violence Research (JMVR) aims to share rigorous, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed studies related to different facets of mass violence in the U.S. and beyond. With a focus on public research and accessibility, JMVR seeks to promote high-quality scholarship and authors, disseminate findings via articles, videos, and infographics, and generate academic and public interest in this important research area.

Read the Latest Research

A Scoping Review of the Research on Suspicious Activity Reporting Indicators, Terrorism, and Non-Ideological Targeted Violence
Research Article

The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI), which facilitates the process of reporting and investigating suspicious behaviors potentially indicative of terrorist activity, has been identified as a tool that can be used to concurrently prevent both terrorism and targeted violence. The NSI captures preoperational behavior in 16 discrete SAR indicators which have been evaluated in the context of terrorism. Yet, these indicators lack systematic evidence to substantiate the application to non-ideological targeted violence, despite a growing body of research on preoperational behavior preceding acts of mass and school violence. This study conducts a scoping review of empirical research on SAR-related behaviors, terrorism, and non-ideological targeted violence. Findings from this review indicate the empirical evidence on SARs is preliminary but growing, and points to key gaps in data, methodology, and focus of existing research. The purpose of this review is to contextualize the current evidence base informing the NSI program and guide future research contributing to this area of research.

Read More »
July 13, 2026
Research Article

Suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (SRTBs) have become identified as common antecedent experiences of mass shooters prior to and during their shootings. To better support and inform efforts of such upstream prevention and intervention efforts of mass violence, this study aimed to provide an exploratory descriptive perspective of the interpersonal experiences of mass shooters who survived and those who died on the scene (i.e., died by self-inflicted suicide, or died by police intervention) using the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide (IPTS) as a theoretical framework. Through an open-source data collection method, researchers gathered data related to the interpersonal constructs of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and a capability for suicide, for N = 112 mass shooters that perpetrated their crime in the 21st century. Interpersonal constructs were observed as similar across both on-scene outcomes. The interpersonal constructs of thwarted belongingness and a capability for suicide were evidenced in a majority shooters across outcomes. These results offer initial exploratory evidence that most mass shootings may, at their core, be influenced to some extent by SRTBs as described by the IPTS. By addressing mass shootings through such a point-of-view, prevention and intervention efforts may benefit from alignment with those proven efficacious for SRTBs.

Read More »
January 21, 2025
Research Article

This study examines the role of partisan media bias in the reporting of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, and on the March For Our Lives gun control protests that followed the shooting. This study posits partisan media bias at the center of the Parkland shooting. It asks how partisan bias affected the way the media constructed narratives about the shooting and the youth activists who mobilized because of their experiences of victimization. The results show that the national media’s framing of the Parkland advocates and the tragedy itself depended on their partisan orientations. Additionally, the results indicate that there are meaningful differences in the reporting that advocates can strategically use to gain positive coverage from news media.

Read More »
September 24, 2024

Our Vision

Mass violence is a growing concern across the United States and around the world, and it affects millions of lives. The editors and the editorial board understand the importance of using a multidisciplinary, research-focused approach to define and measure the problem, identify and evaluate prevention and intervention efforts, and expand the body of knowledge to ultimately inform policies and programs related to mass violence.

The editors and editorial board of JMVR recognize that the issue of mass violence is one that spans many disciplines, including criminology and criminal justice, public health, sociology, psychology, and more. By offering a variety of perspectives and methodological approaches, we envision the journal to be one that provides a comprehensive framework through which to understand the problem of the mass violence. The journal is unique in that it addresses the many facets of mass violence in addition to perpetration, such as the victimization perspective, individual or societal effects, law enforcement responses, prevention efforts, and more.

To do this, JMVR also aims to address current conditions and practices that often stifle the sharing of information and research findings. Rather than paywalling research that has meaningful implications for practice, the journal provides full open-access free of charge to authors and readers. Additionally, the focus on public research encourages authors to produce easily digestible summaries of the studies in the form of infographics or short videos. This allows for the open sharing of research with the public, the media, policymakers, and practitioners to generate conversation and interest with the common goal of reducing and preventing instances of mass violence. 

Driven by our Guiding Principles, the journal intends to re-envision the submission and production process, offering productive reviews, providing timely decisions to authors, and ensuring linguistic and intellectual access to findings all while still ensuring that all research is vetted through a rigorous review process. Additionally, we aim to create a culture of inclusivity and diversity, especially supporting and promoting early career researchers and authors, LGBTQ+ scholars, women, and scholars of color. We believe that these practices and principles will allow for the promotion of science in a time when it is desperately needed and address one of the most profound, tragic problems in our society. 

Features of JMVR

Open Access

Accepted articles will be made available to readers at no charge. We believe that research should be readily available to the public, policymakers, and others, which is why all JMVR articles will be openly available to read online and to download.

Quarterly Publication plus Online First

JMVR will publish four (4) issues per year, but you don't have to wait to read new and emerging research. All accepted articles will be available for readers ahead of being assigned to an issue through our Online First option.

Timely Decisions on All Manuscripts

While each review is different, it is our aim to provide feedback in a timely manner. Our goal is to have an initial decision to authors within 45 days of submission and, for all accepted papers, a 120-day average window from submission to acceptance.

Transparency Through the Process

We believe in a transparent process in order for authors to have the best possible experience with JMVR. All articles will be expected to adhere to the journal's guiding principles, as will the reviews and editorial decisions.

Sign up for updates from JMVR!