NCJ Number
128069
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1990) Pages: 57-66
Date Published
1990
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Crime rates of Asian Americans have consistently ranked among the lowest of all ethnic or racial groups.
Abstract
These low crime rates may be partially attributed to group solidarity and a reluctance to report criminal victimization to the police. The insularity of Asian Americans also limits their knowledge and understanding of the operational aspects of the American legal justice system. This lack of understanding can contribute to fear of the legal justice system which inhibits the reporting of crimes and pursuit of legal remedies. This paper assesses the nature and impact of these structural relations and focuses on the cultural context of crime and law enforcement policy in the Korean community. Results indicate that Korean American offenders victimize their own people, and that the experiences from Korea inhibit the reporting of these crimes to U.S. law enforcement officials. As Korean immigrants become increasingly accultured, it is expected that they will come to understand and accept the American system of criminal justice, to report criminal victimizations, and to cooperate in the criminal justice process. 1 note and 38 references (Author abstract modified)