| An extensive body of research addresses the impact of race and ethnic succession on community levels of crime and violence. Few studies, however, have examined the relationship between crime and the movement of Hispanics into African-American communities. Our research evaluates changes in homicide between 1980 and 1999 in the Southeast area of Los Angeles, an impoverished area with a history of chronic violence in which Hispanics have supplanted African Americans as the majority group. Using micro-level data from police case files, we assess changes in the level and characteristics of homicide in light of the changing demographics of place. We utilize data on ethnic composition kept by local public housing offices and by public schools in the area to capture annual changes in neighborhood composition. Within-group homicides are expected to decrease while between-group homicides are expected to increase during the period. We expect the most pronounced changes to occur in youth homicides, especially those involving gangs. |
Updated 05/20/2006