Where You From? Examining the Relationship between Gang Migrants and Gang-Related Homicide

Daniel Scott

doi:10.3390/soc12020048

Abstract

Research has frequently focused on the increased likelihood of violence and homicide among gang-involved individuals, as well as on the factors that contribute to this violence. Such work has examined the relationship between immigration and the frequency of crime, as well. However, there is a dearth of research examining the likelihood of gang-related homicide and the presence of both gang migrants from within the U.S. and those from abroad in a given community. The current paper utilizes National Youth Gang Survey data to examine the relationship between law enforcement perceptions of gang migrants in their jurisdiction and the frequency of gang-related homicide. The results reveal that gang-related homicides have a significant and negative association with the presence of gang migrants. These findings have important policy implications for understanding and addressing serious gang violence and homicide at the community level.

Highlights

In jurisdictions where police report that gang migrants within the U.S significantly influence gang related violence, gang-related homicides are significantly less likely to occur
The results suggest that gang migrants may aid in reducing the likelihood of serious crimes such as homicide
This is consistent with other research which has found that immigrants coming into a community can help to revitalize an area by strengthening social ties and support with one another, arguably reducing the likelihood of crime [11]. These findings are consistent with work examining gang migrants within the U.S For example, Maxson (1997) found that at times gang members may move for illicit reasons, most of the time they move for family-related or other social reasons

Summary

Introduction

Citation: Scott, D. Where You From?Examining the Relationship betweenGang Migrants and Gang-RelatedHomicide. Societies 2022, 12, 48.https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12020048Academic Editors: Jaimee Mallion and Erika GeboReceived: 7 February 2022Accepted: 10 March 2022Published: 12 March 2022Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Copyright: Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Methods

Results

Conclusion