Crime and Delinquency among Asian American Youth

• In Event: Correlates of Delinquency among Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Abstract

Race/ethnicity and juvenile delinquency has been a longstanding theme in criminological research. However, Asian American youths have received little attention in the research literature, and far less is known about crime and delinquency among this population compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Recent evidence shows that Asian Americans have become one of the fastest growing populations in the United States, and Asian youth are increasingly involved in crime and delinquency. It is therefore more important than ever to explore, investigate, and understand the prevalence of crime and delinquency among Asian American adolescents as well as the correlates, causes, and consequences. In this state-of-the-art review, we take stock of the limited but expanding research on juvenile delinquency among Asian Americans, assess the ways researchers have sought to understand Asian American adolescents’ delinquent behaviors, discuss the challenges and opportunities in this field, and provide recommendations for future research.

Authors

• Yue Zhuo, St. John's University

• Sheldon X Zhang, University of Massachusetts-Lowell