The Effects of Racial/Ethnic Segregation on Latino and Black Homicide

Abstract

Racial/ethnic residential segregation has been shown to contribute to violence and have harmful consequences for minority groups. However, research examining the segregation–crime relationship has focused almost exclusively on blacks and whites while largely ignoring Latinos and other race/ethnic groups and has rarely considered potential mediators (e.g., concentrated disadvantage) in segregation–violence relationships. This study uses year 2000 arrest data for California and New York census places to extend segregation–crime research by comparing the effects of racial/ethnic residential segregation from whites on black and Latino homicide. Results indicate that (1) racial/ethnic segregation contributes to both Latino and black homicide, and (2) the effects for both groups are mediated by concentrated disadvantage. Implications for segregation–violence relationships, the racial-invariance position, and the Latino paradox are discussed.

Racial Differences in Age at First Sexual Intercourse: Residential Racial Segregation and the Black-White Disparity among U.S. Adolescents

“…A poor neighborhood environment is believed to increase social disorder and foster crime, drug use, and risky sexual behaviors. 18,19,21,40,46 Studies have shown that segregation is associated with increased crime rates and drug use. 33,40,47 High clustering may exacerbate the effects of the concentrated disadvantage and social disorder in these areas.…”

“…Segregation indices were categorized at values established previously by segregation demographers: very low (#0.30), low (.0.30-0.40), moderate (.0.40-0.60), and high (.0.60). 29,32,40 MAs that were highly segregated on four or five dimensions were categorized as hypersegregated. 17,28 MA-level covariates.…”

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

“…Patterns of group isolation are also thought to reinforce group differences, inhibit collective action across groups, and create a fertile environment for conflict and social problems like crime. In line with these arguments, a sizable body of empirical research indicates that racial residential segregation is a key source of macro-level violence, particularly when it occurs in disadvantaged contexts and as a result of discriminatory or forced residential patterns (Feldmeyer, 2010;Krivo et al, 2009;Peterson and Krivo, 1993, 2005Shihadeh and Flynn, 1996;Shihadeh and Maume, 1997).…”

“…Instead of providing protective or buffering effects, segregation of immigrant populations could (at least in some circumstances) create greater susceptibility to violence and other social problems at the macro level. Indeed, rather than creating the protective enclaves of opportunity and ''communities of choice'' depicted in prior immigration-crime research, isolating immigrant populations (especially in disadvantaged contexts) could contribute to macro-level violence by creating ''ghettos of last resort'' (Glaser et al, 2008: 526) that reinforce a ''framework for exclusion'' from mainstream society (Bolt et al, 1998: 91;Feldmeyer, 2010).…”

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

“…Rather, studies continue to rely predominantly on traditional segregation indices, particularly the dissimilarity index and the exposure index (see for example Barranco, 2013;Feldmeyer et al, 2015;Feldmeyer, 2010;Lee & Ousey, 2005;Peterson & Krivo, 1993;Shihadeh & Flynn, 1996). These measures limit our understanding of the relationship between segregation and crime in two important ways.…”