Examining the Impact of Ethnic Context on Willingness to Cooperate with the Police

• In Event: Latinos, Immigrants, and the Importance of Police Views and Emerging Issues

Abstract

The increasing ethnic diversification, continuous influx of immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries, and over-policing in Hispanic communities within the United States underscore the necessity of examining Hispanic residents' relationships with law enforcement. While previous studies have contributed to our understanding of how ethnicity affects individuals' willingness to cooperate with the police, these studies remain limited, leaving important questions unanswered. In particular, little attention has been paid to the influence of neighborhood-level ethnic composition on individuals' willingness to call the police. To address these gaps, this study extends existing scholarship by offering an empirical assessment of individuals' willingness to cooperate with law enforcement in relation to neighborhood-level ethnic effects. Specifically, it examines the applicability of theoretical frameworks such as the minority threat perspective and social disorganization theory in explaining the relationship between ethnic context and individual cooperation with the police. Utilizing data from the El Paso Neighborhood Survey, which includes approximately 1,000 residents across 46 neighborhood clusters, this research provides valuable insights. The implications of the findings for theory, future criminological research, and public policy are also explored.

Author

• Hyunjung Cheon, University of Texas at El Paso