Contacting the police for assistance: findings from a sample of undocumented Latino immigrants

Abstract

ABSTRACT Victims’ decisions to call the police for assistance have been examined to date primarily from the perspective of U.S. citizens. We still know little about factors that influence decisions of undocumented immigrants to contact the police. Using data from a survey of undocumented Latino immigrants who were victimized in property and person offenses, this study examined the association between experiences during police stops and the likelihood of calling the police for help. Results showed a higher likelihood of contacting the police for assistance among respondents who had experienced police stops in the United States, regardless of the cause of their stop(s) or the police demeanor. However, when disaggregating respondents into subgroups, the study found a low rate of calling police for help among respondents who had negative experiences negative during police stops. The policy implications of the findings are presented.