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ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Understanding the Immigration and Crime Relationship in Columbus, OH, a New Immigrant Destination

Echave, Paola A, Echave
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2770-2195
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1531914724513925

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Sociology.
The general perception that immigration is associated with higher rates of crime continues to be prevalent across the United States. In fact, the 2015 Pew Research Report shows that half of the US population believes that immigrants increase crime and harm the economy. In spite of the negative prevailing perceptions of immigrants, a growing body of research continues to find that increases in immigrant concentration are actually associated with lower levels of crime. Previous studies primarily offer information about historical immigrant destinations like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City that have sustained large immigrant populations over the past century. However, much less is known about the impact of immigration development in new immigrant destinations, such as Columbus, OH where immigrant populations are only recently settling. Specifically, more research is needed to determine whether the observed lower crime rates associated with immigrant concentration observed in historical destinations is also observed in new destination cities such as Columbus, OH. Using arrest data from the Columbus Police Department covering the years 2005-2014 and a variety of other data sources to measure immigration and immigrant community characteristics, the current study has four objectives: 1) to identify community characteristics that make certain neighborhoods more desirable for immigrants to settle in Columbus, OH ; 2) to determine whether immigrant concentration in a relatively recent immigrant destination (Columbus, OH) remains negatively associated with crime rates as it is in more historical immigrant destinations; 3) to determine whether community characteristics can account for any associations found between immigrant concentration and crime rates; and 4) to explore the role of neighborhood characteristics in shaping the immigration-crime association with a specific examination of the presence of immigrant friendly resources that may promote immigrant revitalization in a new destination city. Descriptive findings indicate that immigrants are more likely to concentrate in Columbus neighborhoods characterized by low crime rate, low disadvantage and high availability of renter allocated housing. This suggests that affordable housing and low crime rates make particular neighborhoods more attractive to immigrants in a new destination city like Columbus OH. Multivariate results using negative binomial mixed effect models show that increases in immigration are associated with decreases in violent and property crime rates in Columbus OH. Furthermore, I find evidence that the presence of minority/immigrant owned business marginally enhances the negative relationship between immigration and crime in Columbus OH.
Dana Haynie (Advisor)
88 p.
Criminology; Sociology
Immigration, crime, immigrant revitalization, immigrant political opportunities

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Echave, Echave, P. A. (2018). Understanding the Immigration and Crime Relationship in Columbus, OH, a New Immigrant Destination [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1531914724513925

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Echave, Echave, Paola. Understanding the Immigration and Crime Relationship in Columbus, OH, a New Immigrant Destination. 2018. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1531914724513925.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Echave, Echave, Paola. "Understanding the Immigration and Crime Relationship in Columbus, OH, a New Immigrant Destination." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1531914724513925

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1531914724513925
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.