Enclaves of opportunity or “ghettos of last resort?” Assessing the effects of immigrant segregation on violent crime rates

Feldmeyer, Ben; Harris, Casey T.; Scroggins, Jennifer Rhiannon

doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.01.003

Cited by 32 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Only a handful of empirical studies to date have actually tested the link between immigrant segregation and crime (see for example, Barranco, 2013;Feldmeyer et al, 2015). In his study, Barranco (2013) Similar effects were uncovered in traditional settlement zones (although the size of the reduction was less at 13%).…”

Section: Spatial Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Most immigration-crime research to date has employed measures of immigrant growth or concentration with measures of segregation largely underutilised (see for exception Barranco, 2013;Feldmeyer, Harris & Scroggins, 2015). Yet theoretically, there are reasons to believe that the spatial separation of immigrant groups may impact neighbourhood structures in ways that either promote or reduce crime.…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Limited immigration-crime scholarship thus far has considered the role segregation plays in shaping the immigration-crime relationship (see for exception Barranco, 2013;Feldmeyer et al, 2015).…”

Section: Study 3: Immigration Segregation and Crimementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Study 3, the spatial patterns of immigrant settlement are considered. To date, most immigration-crime research has employed measures of immigrant growth or concentration (see for exception Barranco, 2013;Feldmeyer et al, 2015). Study 3 advances the current literature by examining how the spatial segregation of immigrant groups at the local level influences neighbourhood crime outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Internationally, there is a paucity of scholarship on the association between the segregation of immigrant groups and crime (see for exception Barranco, 2013;Feldmeyer et al, 2015). However, segregation differs from diversity and concentration as it is characterised by isolation and contains both structural and spatial elements (Massey & Denton, 1988;Morrill, 1991).Further, there are theoretical reasons to believe that immigrant segregation affects neighbourhoods in ways that either promote or inhibit crime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Immigration-Crime Myth: Exploring the Impact of Immigration on Neighbourhood Violence

Sydes¹

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The myth of the criminal immigrant and the criminogenic effects of immigration is deeply embedded in public and political discourses across the globe. The consequences these perceptions are nontrivial. Conservative governments tend to manipulate the public's fear of 'crime prone' immigrants to garner support for restrictive immigration policies, hard-line anti-terrorism strategies and deportation practices. Further, certain groups are likely to be subjected to heightened levels of alienation and discrimination in the community -particularly at times of economic crises and threats to national security. This perceived association is also linked to increased social anxiety in the neighbourhoods where immigrants live. Yet whether immigration actually leads to measurable increases in crime is highly questionable. Together, the findings of these three studies demonstrate that regardless of how immigration is measured (by growth, concentration or segregation) or the ethnic group under consideration (measuring ethnicity by both language and religion) -there is little evidence to suggest immigration is linked to greater violent crime in either city. However, the effect of ethnic diversity on violent crime is more problematic, particularly when comparing across neighbourhoods. Specifically, I find neighbourhoods with greater language and religion diversity encounter more violent crime problems.This points to a breakdown in informal social control in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods.Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that ethnic diversity comprises only a small piece of the overall puzzle when explaining variations in violent crime across place.iv

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Section: Spatial Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study 3: Immigration Segregation and Crimementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%