The El Paso Neighborhood Survey Project: A Reflection of Prior Work and Pathways Forward

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

The study of Latina/o/x/e contexts in the field of criminology has grown considerably in recent decades; however, very few research efforts have been dedicated entirely to understanding the social, economic, and legal experiences of this group. In 2014, researchers from the University of Texas at El Paso collected data for the El Paso Neighborhood Survey Project—a project that collected data from individuals from neighborhoods in El Paso County, Texas. This effort sought to examine an array of factors and experiences that impact this majority Latina/o/x/e community. This panel seeks to reflect back on this data collection effort with the original primary investigators from the project as well as discuss and present avenues for research lines using these data. The first study revisits the original study’s methodology and discusses the contribution of the work generated from this project. The second presentation examines the concept of optimism and its impact on views of the police. The third project seeks to validate an important measure set from the data—the “desire for a low profile.” Collectively, these studies work together to demonstrate what the Neighborhood Survey Project has contributed and how it can continue to contribute in understanding Latina/o/e/x individuals and communities.

Sub Unit

• Area IV. Correlates of Crime / 27. Immigration/Migration

Individual Presentations

• A Decade of Research from the El Paso Neighborhood Survey Project: Lessons Learned and Advances in Understanding Criminality and Policing among Latinx and Immigrant Populations - Theodore R. Curry, University of Texas at El Paso; Maria Cristina Morales, University of Texas at El Paso

• Latina/o Optimism and Views of The Police - Chris Guerra, University of Texas at El Paso

• The Validation of a “Desire for a Low Profile” Scale - Hyunjung Cheon, University of Texas at El Paso