Self-Reported Violent Victimization Among Young Adults in Miami,Florida: Immigration,Race/Ethnic and Gender Contrasts *

Abstract

Does being an immigrant place an individual at greater risk than non-immigrants for violent victimization? Could residence in homogeneous communities, such as ethnic enclaves, serve to protect or mediate victimization among immigrant groups from being targets of victimization? These and related questions are explored using self-report data from a large epidemiological survey project (n = 1,473) in Miami, Florida. Self-reports of three types of victimization data are identified and contrasted among and between Cuban and Nicaraguan immigrants, and members of the host country — U.S. born Cubans, African Americans and non-Hispanic Whites. Controlling for gender, findings from this predominantly-Latino community suggest that immigrant groups in Miami are no more likely to experience vicarious, violent or sexual victimization than non-immigrants. African Americans were found to be more exposed to vicarious forms of violence. These self-report results support findings from recent macro-level criminological studies that have called into question the common stereotype of the immigrant as victim and as criminal. The authors contend that the supportive social, political and cultural environments awaiting Latino immigrants arriving in Miami may be part of a unique historic phenomenon in this Southern Port city, one that suggets a re-evaluation and fine-tuning of traditional structural models of crime and victimization.