The Protective Impact of Immigrant Concentration on Juvenile Recidivism: Contextual Effects and Individual-Level Mediators

• In Event: Untangling the Macro-Contextual Link Between Immigration and Crime

Abstract

A growing amount of scholarship suggests that immigrant concentration has a negative or null effect on criminal behavior. Recent research also illustrates that immigrant concentration provides a protective impact on juvenile recidivism. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms that link immigrant concentration to offending behavior. Building on prior efforts, the present study examines whether several theoretically relevant mechanisms mediate the effect of immigrant concentration on juvenile recidivism. Current research findings are discussed, along with implications/directions for future research.

Authors

• Jonathan Intravia, Ball State University

• Kevin T. Wolff, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Michael T. Baglivio, G4S Youth Services, LLC

• Alex R. Piquero, University of Texas at Dallas