The Protective Impact of Immigrant Concentration on Juvenile Recidivism: A Multilevel Examination of Potential Mechanisms

Abstract

Both macro- and micro-level research suggests that immigration is unrelated or negatively associated with crime and violence. However, far less research has examined the indirect effects of immigrant concentration on individual-level criminal behavior, and specifically with respect to persistent offending. Moreover, researchers have only begun to explore the mechanisms that link neighborhood context, such as immigrant concentration, to individual outcomes. Thus, identification of the potential mechanisms that may mediate the effect of immigrant concentration on offending remains little understood. Using a unique sample of more than 26,000 youthful offenders from the state of Florida, multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) analyses reveal that family structure, familial incarceration, and social ties partially mediate the effect of immigrant concentration on youth reoffending. Findings and implications from the present study are discussed, along with policy implications and future directions for research in this area.