Changes in Community conditions: Race/Ethnicity and San Antonio Homicides Since 1970

• In Event: Emerging Issues on Immigration, Crime and Justice

Abstract

In the current study, we examine the temporal variation in homicides for a major
southwestern city (San Antonio, Texas) in several ways. First, we extend prior longitudinal studies by studying trends in race/ethnic specific killings (e.g. Blacks, Latinos and Whites). Second, we address the limitations found in the emerging temporal literature and examine changes in social/economic conditions on changes in homicides, with a specific focus on a substantively important issues—a closer examination of the role community heterogeneity plays in homicide levels. Third, this work is extended by probing the over-time relationship between immigration and violent crime in census tracts through the examination of homicides spanning from 1970 to 2010. Our results indicate that even when examined through a wider temporal lens than is typically employed, and also accounting for the endogeneity of immigrant residential settlement, we find mixed support for the claims that immigration is a crime generating social process.

Authors

• Janice A. Iwama, University of Massachusetts Boston

• Ramiro Martinez, Northeastern University