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Delinquency and Crime among Immigrant Youth—An Integrative Review of Theoretical Explanations

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  • Xi Chen

    (Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4F Sino Building, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong)

  • Hua Zhong

    (Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4F Sino Building, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong)

Abstract

Although classical theorists tend to believe that immigrant youth are more delinquent than native-born adolescents, the existing empirical studies have shown the opposite. The current paper first gives a comprehensive overview of major theoretical explanations for the relatively lower level of delinquency among immigrant youth, including cultural perspectives, strain theories, social control theory, social learning theory, and social disorganization theory. The main argument is that immigrant youth who have not yet acculturated to the youth subculture of the host society are more law-abiding due to protections from their traditional traits ( i.e ., being more realistic, stronger ties with family/schools, less access to delinquent friends, and higher level of collective efficacy in homogeneous neighborhoods). All these theories are also applied to explain the generational differences in terms of delinquency: compared to earlier generations, later generations of immigrant youth are often more delinquent because they are more acculturated and the protective factors from their origins wear off over time. The continuing public and political bias toward immigrant youth has been explained by social constructionists. We further discuss the necessity of a synthesis of these theoretical approaches and the importance to examine both internal and international migration under similar theoretical frameworks in the modern era.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Chen & Hua Zhong, 2013. "Delinquency and Crime among Immigrant Youth—An Integrative Review of Theoretical Explanations," Laws, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-23, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlawss:v:2:y:2013:i:3:p:210-232:d:27969
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raven Molloy & Christopher L. Smith & Abigail Wozniak, 2011. "Internal Migration in the United States," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 25(3), pages 173-196, Summer.
    2. Kevin Thomas, 2012. "Migration Processes, Familial Characteristics, and Schooling Dropout Among Black Youths," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(2), pages 477-498, May.
    3. Warner, Barbara D. & Fowler, Shannon K., 2003. "Strain and violence: Testing a general strain theory model of community violence," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 511-521.
    4. Kristin F. Butcher & Anne Morrison Piehl, 1998. "Cross-city evidence on the relationship between immigration and crime," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(3), pages 457-493.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Fan & Nelson-Gardell, Debra & Guo, Yuqi, 2018. "The role of strains in negative emotions and bullying behaviors of school-aged children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 290-297.
    2. Cui, Kunjie & To, Siu-ming, 2019. "Migrant status, social support, and bullying perpetration of children in mainland China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Ylenia Brilli & Marco Tonello, 2018. "Does Increasing Compulsory Education Decrease or Displace Adolescent Crime? New Evidence from Administrative and Victimization Data," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo, vol. 64(1), pages 15-49.
    4. Kelly Pierce & Diana Sun & Ben Feldmeyer, 2023. "Staying under the Radar? Immigration Effects on Overdose Deaths and the Impact of Sanctuary Jurisdictions," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Vaughn, Michael G. & Salas-Wright, Christopher P. & Maynard, Brandy R. & Qian, Zhengmin & Terzis, Lauren & Kusow, Abdi M. & DeLisi, Matt, 2014. "Criminal epidemiology and the immigrant paradox: Intergenerational discontinuity in violence and antisocial behavior among immigrants," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 483-490.

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