NCJ Number
146868
Date Published
1987
Length
185 pages
Annotation
This report explores the existing literature and statistics, comparing court appearance and imprisonment rates of migrants to Australia with those of persons born in the country over the past 30 years.
Abstract
Social factors considered in the analysis include age, sex, educational level, employment, and marital status of offenders, as well as data on the nature of the offense, sentencing type and length, and the legal status of prisoners. The studies included in this review show that persons from general migrant populations commit fewer crimes and are less likely to be imprisoned than persons from the Australian-born population. However, migrant offending patterns come to resemble those of Australian natives over time. In both populations, males dominate prison statistics. Between 1982 and 1985, inmates from the United Kingdom and New Zealand comprised the largest populations in prison, second and third only to Australian-born inmates. Statistics show a significant correlation between employment status and imprisonment, so that migrants from groups with higher employment rates had lower offending rates. Two predominant patterns of offending were identified here: those who commit property and personal crimes and those involved in drug trafficking. Migrants were often unaware of police procedures or their rights and were highly distrustful of the criminal justice system. The author offers recommendations for police, the courts, corrections, the community, and educators. 39 tables, 19 figures, and 264 references