Acculturation and crime: Protecting the male and female offspring of U.S. immigrants against future arrest and incarceration

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of acculturation on future criminality in the children of immigrants. This research question was explored in 3,211 children of immigrants (1,468 boys and 1,743 girls) whose parents had immigrated to the United States. Analyses revealed that longer residence at the time of initial interview (mean age = 14 years) predicted an increased rate of arrest and incarceration five to ten years later. On the other hand, childhood identification as an American predicted decreased risk of arrest and incarceration. Both findings were restricted to boys. These results suggest that the male offspring of U.S. immigrants are affected in both positive and negative ways by the acculturation experience and that while passive domains of assimilation (time spent in the U.S.) may place the offspring of immigrants at increased risk for future criminality, certain active domains (identification as an American) may do just the opposite.

KEYWORDS:

• Acculturation
• arrest
• incarceration
• cultural identity