Department of Criminal Justice California State University - Bakersfield CRJU 330 Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice Dr. Abu-Lughod, Reem Ali Victims and Offenders

Intro: n What do Americans perceive a typical crime to look like? A typical offender? A typical victim? n Evidence suggest that many incidents of violent crimes are not necessarily gang related, committed by a minority against a “white” victim. n Interracial crimes are the exception

THE CRIME VICTIM n Sensationalized crimes, report crimes committed by young AA or Hispanic n The NCVS 1973 n Questions asked to head of households as well as individuals over the age of 12. questions about their experiences with a particular incident, or crimes that they may be fearful of n Biases: does not cover commercial crimes, homicide, or kidnapping. Also, homeless people are not interviewed. Interviewer’s bias, memory loss. Race: limited to white, AA and other, while ethnicity is limited to Hispanic and Non-Hispanic

The Effect of Urbanization n High crimes for AA in urban areas, for white households in suburban and for all other combined racial groups (native American, Asian, etc) in rural areas. n High personal victimization among AA. Victimization rates are highest for most groups in urban areas. AA highest rates overall.

Picture of the Typical Offender n Crime: associated with a young AA male. Black crime. Street crimes get most of the attention n Arrest rates versus offending. Crimes not reported to the police, resulting in the dark figure of crime

OFFICIAL ARREST DATA n UCR data: includes only crimes that have resulted in an arrest. Crimes not reported to the police go unnoticed, as well as those individuals whose deviant acts do not result in an arrest. Validity versus reliability. n Data available for whites, AA, Native American and Asian. Ethnicity not included. n NCVS: some victims do not report their crimes. It varies by race. WHY? n Research: victims of rape and robbery will more likely report if offender is AA n Interactions between police officers and offenders may influence police decision. Extralegal factors n AA appear to be arrested at a disproportionately higher rate.

SELF-REPORT SURVEYS u Emerging in the 1950s u No single design used. Focuses on different aspects of criminal behavior u Relies on respondents memory and honesty Intraracial crimes: more common than interracial crimes u Interracial (hate) crimes. Not all are considered “hate” crimes. u FBI has a hate crime category

Ethnic Youth Gangs Gang Myths and Realities u Myth 1: found in large cities u Myth 2: all are AA (Bloods or Crips) u Myth 3: involved in selling drugs and drug trafficking u Myth 4: result of poverty and underclass u Myth 5: all males Varieties of Ethnic Gangs u AA: Bloods or Crips u Native American: take their name from more established gangs. Less established and less coordinated u Asian: feelings of alienation. Economic activity. u Hispanic: brotherhood/sisterhood u White: skinheads, stoner (satanic rituals) and territoriality.

THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS n Does the American social structure play a role in determining the likelihood of some individuals committing deviant acts? n Inequality and crime: examining the significance of social strain, differential association, social disorganization, culture conflict, conflict, and routine activity theories