The Latina/o Political Challenge to Mainstream Criminology

• In Event: Latin@ Criminology Panel 1: Setting a New Agenda for Research, Policy, and Justice

Abstract

Growth in the US Latina/o population has challenged and disrupted the political order of cities across the country. In this talk, I argue that these political dynamics are 1) changing the ways violent crime is geographically concentrated in cities, and 2) changing how cities are attempting to prevent violent crime. Using findings from several studies, I demonstrate empirically how urban political conflict stemming from increases in Latina/o populations is further concentrating violence on particular blocks in Chicago, and driving increases in city police spending nationwide. These empirical findings expose numerous gaps and assumptions in many dominant theoretical frameworks within criminology. I conclude by describing areas where research on Latina/o political dynamics can further complicate mainstream criminological theory, as well as discuss the importance of this research for activists and policymakers.

Author

• Robert Vargas, University of Notre Dame