The Many Colors of Crime: Inequalities of Race, Ethnicity, and Crime in America (New Perspectives in Crime, Deviance, and Law)

432 Pages·2006·2.94 MB·English

by  Ruth Peterson

The Many Colors of Crime
New Perspectives in Crime, Deviance, and Law Series
Edited by John Hagan
Clean Streets: Controlling Crime,Maintaining Order,and
Building Community Activism
Patrick J.Carr
Gender and Crime: Patterns in Victimization and Offending
Edited by Karen Heimer and Candace Kruttschnitt
The Many Colors ofCrime: Inequalities ofRace,
Ethnicity,and Crime in America
Edited by Ruth D.Peterson,Lauren J.Krivo,and John Hagan
Coming to America: Crime and Disorder in a New Era ofImmigration
Edited by Ramiro Martinez Jr.and Abel Valenzuela Jr.
The Many Colors of Crime
Inequalities of Race, Ethnicity, and
Crime in America
edited by
Ruth D. Peterson, Lauren J. Krivo,
and John Hagan
a
New York University Press
new york and london
new york university press
New York and London
www.nyupress.org
© 2006by New York University
All rights reserved
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The many colors ofcrime :inequalities ofrace,ethnicity,and crime in
America / edited by Ruth D.Peterson,Lauren J.Krivo,and John Hagan.
p.cm.— (New perspectives in crime,deviance,and law series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13:978-0-8147-6719-1(cloth :alk.paper)
ISBN-10:0-8147-6719-2(cloth :alk.paper)
ISBN-13:978-0-8147-6720-7(pbk.:alk.paper)
ISBN-10:0-8147-6720-6(pbk.:alk.paper)
1.Crime—United States. 2.Discrimination in criminal justice
administration—United States. 3.Minorities—United States.
I.Peterson,Ruth D. II.Krivo,Lauren Joy. III.Hagan,John,1946–
IV.Series.
HV6789.M34 2006
364.973—dc22 2006003998
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper,
and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability.
Manufactured in the United States ofAmerica
c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In Memory of
Dorothy Hagan and Charles Hagan
Marcia Krivo Weinberg and Albert Krivo
Lenora W.Peterson and Walter L.Peterson,Sr.

Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction:Inequalities ofRace,Ethnicity,and
Crime in America 1
Ruth D.Peterson,Lauren J.Krivo,and John Hagan
1 Cultural Mechanisms and Killing Fields:A Revised
Theory ofCommunity-Level Racial Inequality 8
Robert J.Sampson and Lydia Bean
part i Constructs and Conceptual Approaches
2 Conceptualizing Race and Ethnicity in Studies of
Crime and Criminal Justice 39
Marjorie S.Zatz and Nancy Rodriguez
3 Demythologizing the “Criminalblackman”:
The Carnival Mirror 54
Vernetta Young
4 Race and the Justice Workforce:Toward a
System Perspective 67
GeoffK.Ward
part ii Populations and Intersectionalities
5 Toward an Understanding ofthe Lower Rates of
Homicide in Latino versus Black Neighborhoods:
A Look at Chicago 91
María B.Vélez
vii
viii Contents
6 Extending Ethnicity and Violence Research in a
Multiethnic City:Haitian,African American,
and Latino Nonlethal Violence 108
Ramiro Martinez,Jr.,and Amie L.Nielsen
7 Crime and Deviance in the “Black Belt”:African American
Youth in Rural and Nonrural Developmental Contexts 122
Alexander T.Vazsonyi and Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo
8 Crime at the Intersections:Race,Class,Gender,and
Violent Offending 138
Stacy De Coster and Karen Heimer
9 Race,Inequality,and Gender Violence:A Contextual
Examination 157
Toya Z.Like and Jody Miller
part iii Contexts and Settings
10 Is the Gap between Black and White Arrest Rates
Narrowing? National Trends for Personal Contact
Crimes,1960to 2002 179
Gary LaFree,Robert O’Brien,and Eric Baumer
11 Race,Labor Markets,and Neighborhood Violence 199
Robert D.Crutchfield,Ross L.Matsueda,and
Kevin Drakulich
12 Drug Markets in Minority Communities:Consequences
for Mexican American Youth Gangs 221
Avelardo Valdez
13 Perceptions ofCrime and Safety in Racially and
Economically Distinct Neighborhoods 237
Lauren J.Krivo,Ruth D.Peterson,and Diana L.Karafin
14 Neighborhood,Race,and the Economic Consequences of
Incarceration in New York City,1985–1996 256
Alex R.Piquero,Valerie West,Jeffrey Fagan,and
Jan Holland
Contents ix
part iv Mechanisms and Processes
15 Creating Racial Disadvantage:The Case ofCrack Cocaine 277
Doris Marie Provine
16 Transforming Communities:Formal and Informal
Mechanisms ofSocial Control 295
Wenona Rymond-Richmond
17 Toward a Developmental and Comparative Conflict
Theory ofRace,Ethnicity,and Perceptions of
Criminal Injustice 313
Carla Shedd and John Hagan
18 Race and Neighborhood Codes ofViolence 334
Ross L.Matsueda,Kevin Drakulich,and Charis E.Kubrin
Conclusion:A Deeper Understanding ofRace,Ethnicity,
Crime,and Criminal Justice 357
Ruth D.Peterson,Lauren J.Krivo,and John Hagan
Bibliography 367
Contributors 413
Index 419