County; Population; Murder Rate*; Death Row Inmates*

Harris; 3,200,000; 9.1; 141

Dallas; 2,000,000; 9.2; 40

Bexar; 1,350,000; 7.4; 29

Tarrant; 1,350,000; 6.8; 24

Travis; 710,000; 5.8; 5

El Paso; 703,000; 4.6; 7

Note: The murder rate for Tarrant County includes Hood, Johnson, and Parker counties. The rate for Dallas County includes Collin, Denton, Ellis, Henderson, Hunt, and Rockwall counties. Harris figures include Liberty, Chambers, and Waller counties. The rate for Bexar includes Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson counties. The rate for Travis includes Bastrop, Hays, Williamson, and Caldwell counties. El Paso figures are for El Paso County alone. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice, FBI

* per 100,000 residents. Figures for 1997.

** number of inmates as of Sept. 23, 1999.

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