Immigrants and Violence: The Importance of Neighborhood Context

• NCJ Number: 177482
• Journal: Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: May 1998 Pages: 155-174
• Author(s): Maria Luisa Alaniz; Randi S. Cartmill; Robert Nash Parker
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Earlier version of article presented at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, 1996, New York

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between violence and immigration and the importance of neighborhood context, including alcohol availability, in the commission of violent acts.

Abstract

Using data from block groups, these relationships were examined in three California communities with significant immigrant populations. Data on socioeconomic characteristics were combined with police data concerning youth and data on alcohol availability. The data were geocoded by block group and population-based rates were calculated. A specialized regression package was used to analyze the relationships. Results indicated that immigration and youth violence were not related but that violence was predicted by alcohol availability. Contextual factors such as family breakdown and professional role models were also significant predictors of youth violence. In addition, the neighborhood context of violence was important in understanding why violence varied within communities. It was determined that violence prevention efforts may benefit from regulatory efforts to reduce the high concentration of alcohol outlets in Latino neighborhoods. Implications of the findings for violence prevention policies are discussed. 36 references, 2 tables, and 2 figures