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An Examination of American Perceptions of the Immigrant-Crime Relationship

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Abstract

The notion that immigrants are more crime prone or increase crime has been largely debunked by criminologists over the last two decades. However, there is a lack of contemporary research on explaining perceptions of immigrant criminality, specifically. This study examines the factors that relate to American’s belief that immigrants increase crime rates in local communities. Using weighted blocked logistic regression analyses, this study found that individual factors related to identity (e.g. race, gender, age, religion, etc.) were not significant predictors of the view that immigrants increase crime. Instead, individuals who believe immigrants are a burden to society, already have negative views of immigrants, and are more resistant to societal and cultural change are more likely to believe this falsehood. Overall, the findings offer partial support for the social disorganization and conflict perspectives, with the latter receiving the most support. Economic competition hypotheses received no support.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminology, Social Sciences Building 333, The College of New Jersey, NJ, Ewing, 08268, USA

    Wesley S. McCann

  2. Department of Legal Studies, The University of Mississippi, University, Odom Hall, P. O. Box 1848, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA

    Francis D. Boateng

Authors
  1. Wesley S. McCann
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Correspondence to Wesley S. McCann.

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Survey Questions

Survey Questions

Free Trade

  1. 1.

    Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view – even if neither is exactly right?:

    1. a.

      Free trade agreements with other countries are mostly helpful because they open markets for U.S. companies and allow Americans to buy goods more cheaply (‘0’)

    2. b.

      Free trade agreements with other countries are mostly harmful because they send jobs overseas and drive down wages (‘1’)

Recession Question.

  1. 2.

    Do you think the country’s economic recession is over, or do you think the economy is still in a recession?

    1. a.

      Recession is over (‘0’)

    2. b.

      Still in a recession (‘1’)

Resistance to Societal Change Index.

  1. 3.

    Now, read each statement and please say if you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree with each one (Scale ranges from 9 to 36):

    1. a.

      The American way of life needs to be protected against foreign influence

      1. i.

        Completely disagree (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Mostly disagree (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Mostly agree (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Completely agree (‘4’)

    2. b.

      The idea of America where most people are not white bothers me

      1. i.

        Completely disagree (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Mostly disagree (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Mostly agree (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Completely agree (‘4’)

    3. c.

      The values of Islam are at odds with American values and way of life

      1. i.

        Completely disagree (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Mostly disagree (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Mostly agree (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Completely agree (‘4’)

    4. d.

      We should make a serious effort to deport all illegal immigrants back to their home countries

      1. i.

        Completely disagree (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Mostly disagree (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Mostly agree (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Completely agree (‘4’)

    5. e.

      It bothers me when I come into contact with immigrants who speak little or no English

      1. i.

        Completely disagree (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Mostly disagree (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Mostly agree (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Completely agree (‘4’)

    6. f.

      It is important to keep fighting against laws and cultural changes that conflict with my values, even if most other Americans disagree.

      1. i.

        Completely disagree (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Mostly disagree (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Mostly agree (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Completely agree (‘4’)

    Now, we would like to get your views on some issues that are being discussed in the country today. Do you favor or oppose the following:

    1. g.

      Building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico

      1. i.

        ‘Strong oppose (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Oppose (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Favor (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Strongly favor (‘4’).

    2. h.

      Passing a law to prevent Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.

      1. i.

        ‘Strong oppose (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Oppose (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Favor (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Strongly favor (‘4’).

    3. i.

      Temporarily banning Muslims from other countries from entering the U.S.

      1. i.

        ‘Strong oppose (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Oppose (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Favor (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Strongly favor (‘4’).

Fear of Victimization Index.

  1. 4.

    And thinking about concerns that people may have, how worried are you that you or someone in your family will (Scale 2–8):

    1. a.

      Be a victim of terrorism

      1. i.

        Very worried (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Somewhat worried (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Not too worried (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Not at all worried (‘4’)

    2. b.

      Be a victim of a violent crime

      1. i.

        Very worried (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Somewhat worried (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Not too worried (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Not at all worried (‘4’)

View of Immigrants Index.

  1. 5.

    In general, how well do you think each of the following describes immigrants coming to the U.S. today? (Scale ranges from 3 to 12):

    1. a.

      They are hardworking

      1. i.

        Very well (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Somewhat well (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Not too well (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Not at all well (‘4’)

    2. b.

      They make an effort to learn English

      1. i.

        Very well (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Somewhat well (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Not too well (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Not at all well (‘4’)

    3. c.

      They have strong family values

      1. i.

        Very well (‘1’)

      2. ii.

        Somewhat well (‘2’)

      3. iii.

        Not too well (‘3’)

      4. iv.

        Not at all well (‘4’)

New Immigrants

  1. 6.

    Do you live in a community with many new immigrants, some new immigrants, only a few new immigrants, or almost no new immigrants?

    1. a.

      Many new immigrants (‘1’)

    2. b.

      Some new immigrants (‘2’)

    3. c.

      Only a few new immigrants (‘3’)

    4. d.

      Almost no new immigrants

Immigration Impact.

  1. 7.

    Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view – even if neither is exactly right?

    1. a.

      Immigrants today strengthen our country because of their hard work and talents (‘1’)

    2. b.

      Immigrants today are a burden on our country because they take our jobs, housing and health care (‘2’)

    3. c.

      Other/Neither/Both (‘3’)

Change-Community.

  1. 8.

    How much, if at all, do you think immigrants today are changing your COMMUNITY and way of life?

    1. a.

      A lot (‘1’)

    2. b.

      A little (‘2’)

    3. c.

      Not at all (‘3’)

Change-America.

  1. 9.

    How much, if at all, do you think that immigrants today are changing AMERICAN SOCIETY and way of life?

    1. a.

      A lot (‘1’)

    2. b.

      A little (‘2’)

    3. c.

      Not at all (‘3’)

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McCann, W.S., Boateng, F.D. An Examination of American Perceptions of the Immigrant-Crime Relationship. Am J Crim Just 45, 973–1002 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-020-09528-2

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