Trust in America: Examining Hispanic Perceptions of Legitimacy

• In Event: Immigration and Justice

Abstract

Generational differences in perceptions of police legitimacy among Hispanics are attributed to the “Americanization” of later generations. While these perceptions are also believed to contribute to an increase in criminal involvement among later generations, scholars have yet to explore the mechanisms driving these shifts in perceptions of legitimacy. Using the Latino National Survey (2006) data, the current study aims to examine differences in trust of the police and the American government between native- and foreign-born Hispanics across the United States. To move scholarship forward, the study also examines whether differences in trust in the police and the government vary between states by region and sanctuary classification.

Author

• Ana Daniels, Arizona State University