IMMIGRANTS AND VIOLENCE - THE IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT

This study examined the relationship between violence and immigration. The importance of neighborhood context, including alcohol availabilit y, was also investigated. Using data from block groups, these relation ships were examined in three California communities with significant i mmigrant populations. Data oil socioeconomic characteristics were comb ined with police data concerning youth and data on alcohol availabilit y. These data were geocoded in a block group, and population-based rat es were calculated A specialized regression package was used to examin e these relationships. Results indicated that immigration and youth vi olence were not related, but that violence was predicted by alcohol av ailability Contextual factors such as family breakdown and professiona l role models were also found to be significant predictors of youth vi olence. Furthermore, the context of violence is important bl understan ding why violence varies within communities. Violence prevention effor ts may benefit from regulatory efforts to reduce the high concentratio ns of alcohol outlets that exist in Latino neighborhoods.