Immigration and Incarceration: Patterns and Predictors of Imprisonment Among First- and Second-Generation Young Adults

摘要: [Pp. 64-89 in Ramiro Martinez, Jr. and Abel Valenzuela, Jr., eds., Immigration Crime: Race, Ethnicity, Violence. New York: York University Press, 2006.] Incarceration: Patterns Predictors of Imprisonment among First- Second-Generation Young Adults 1 Ruben G. Rumbaut, Roberto Gonzales, Golnaz Komaie, Charlie V. Morgan, Rosaura Tafoya-Estrada Nghi Van Nguyen is a 25-year-old Vietnamese man. He works full-time at Pizza Hut, lives with his girlfriend her 4-year-old son San Diego. Without high school diploma, confined to minimum-wage job no benefits. six days week, trying get life back on track. was recently released from prison, after serving three years six-year sentence for attempted burglary. With prison record an 11 th grade education faces major obstacles. His until now has been one hardship bad choices. After fleeing Vietnam boat crammed refugees, Nghi’s family resettled Diego upon arrival the United States. During those early years, times were tough family, which depended public assistance through state-sponsored refugee programs. few dad landed large industrial company, making parts airplanes; he also found companionship remarried. Although doing better materially, still did not act as cohesive unit, parent-child bonds frayed. blames troubles dad’s temper step mom’s chronic nagging. solace peer group youths who just troubled. Together they got caught up drugs, stealing, robberies shootings. left home sixteen escape gain freedom parental authority. This move, however, signaled turn worse. Less than year later, expelled school. Out streets, involvement delinquent activity increased steadily. At 19, picked first criminal charge petty theft, paid $500 put probation. Two months later pulled over by police possession shotgun. story, let go without being charged. But so lucky third encounter police. Four leaving home, age 20, charged commercial confessed crime given maximum sentence, served half. An earlier version this paper presented National Consortium Violence Research Conference “Beyond Racial Dichotomies Violence: Immigrants, Race Ethnicity,” UCLA, November 2003. The support provided research grants Russell Sage Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon, Spencer, Science Foundations, Children Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS), 1991-2005, gratefully acknowledged. We are indebted MacArthur Foundation Network Transitions Adulthood, supported collection qualitative interview data, 2002-2003.