UC Irvine

Scholars of criminology have largely employed a social disorganization lens to explain the relationship between immigration and crime. In this paper, I synthesize the application of social disorganization theoretical arguments and their development over time, including assessing the variations in empirical findings and their relevance to explaining the immigration-crime nexus. Next, I discuss how variable measurement and methodological design issues have impacted empirical and theoretical examinations of the immigration-crime relationship. Furthermore, I examine the implications of this research on the development of immigration policies. Finally, I conclude this paper with suggestions for future directions and new approaches to researching immigration in criminology.