NCJ Number
78571
Date Published
Unknown
Length
52 pages
Annotation
This report on problems of crime in Hispanic communities discusses the amount of crime committed by and against Hispanics, preventive measures, changing patterns of Hispanic community involvement, and specific issues which relate to criminal justice agencies.
Abstract
Beginning with a general discussion of the high rate of crime experienced by Hispanic neighborhoods and the lack of data due to inadequate reporting systems, the report identifies the types of crimes that are prevalent among Hispanics. Violent crimes such as burglary, theft, and rape are most common, and often arise from gang fights among Hispanic youths or between these gangs and other groups. Crime adversely affects the Hispanic family's daily life and raises their living costs. Root causes of crime include poor housing, bad schools, and presence of criminal elements in the community, discrimination, unemployment, and exclusion from mainstream American society with its materialistic rewards. The Hispanic community must play an instrumental role in crime prevention, law enforcement, and the rehabilitation of its ex-offenders. Preventive measures include supportive services for families, increased discipline in schools, job development, housing, and medical and psychiatric services. Police actions that have exacerbated crime and engendered hostility toward law enforcement efforts are examined, using examples from several cities. Patterns in the evolution of Hispanic communities are delineated to show how these groups move from confrontation tactics to cooperation with government agencies. Discrimination against Hispanic defendants by the courts is explored, as are the Hispanic fear of jails, difficulties encountered by Hispanic prison inmates, the critical need for bilingual corrections workers, and the Hispanic community's lack of commitment to crime prevention programs. Strategies to address the problems of Hispanic victimization are suggested. Thirty references are appended.