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Questions for Martinez, Latino Homicide

  1. Ch. 1: what are the structural differences (unemployment, poverty, household structure) between African-Americans and Latinos in the five cities?
  2. Ch. 2: What are the stereotypes about Latino involvement in violent crime? How far back do they go? Can you explain the specific historical factors that may have contributed?
  3. What arguments about crime do the cultural approaches make? Why is generational status key and how does that play out?
  4. What are the differences between Shaw & McKay’s definition of social disorganization, as summarized by Bursik, and Thomas & Znaniecki’s?
  5. A century of research on immigration and crime has shown what? Taylor’s report for the Wickersham Commission (1931) has shown what?
  6. If criminal involvement of one specific immigrant group varies across cities, what is that telling us theoretically?
  7. What are Martinez’ data sources? If he is concentrating on the ethnicity of the homicide victim, what are the reasons for doing that?  What does he say about the similarity by race of offender and victimization rates (hint – see p. 10).
  8. In what ways is the model proposed a multilevel, integrated model?
  9. What was the Mariel boatwave and what did it symbolize?
  10. What are the differences, nationwide, between Latino, African-American, and white homicide rates? How have these shifted over time?
  11. Ch. 4: According to Martinez, what are the implications of barrio formation for Latino criminal involvement? Can you explain the relevant processes?
  12. You want to have a thumbnail sketch of the historical development of the Latino enclaves in each of the 5 cities so you can answer: what are the key differences in these Latino settlement patterns across the five cities?
  13. Ch. 5: What is the answer to the question Martinez poses on p. 77?
  14. How significant are gang and drug related killings (Table 5.3)? Implications?
  15. Ch. 6: Be prepared to discuss the series of figures starting with 6.1 – these are some of the most key evidence presented in the volume.
  16. How did the Marielitos affect homicide offender rate in Miami?
  17. Does recent immigration increase Latino homicide offender rates?
  18. Ch. 7: be prepared to interpret figure series starting with 7.1 – these are some of the most key evidence presented in the volume.
  19. Ch. 8: What are the main theoretical implications? Policy implications? How as 9/11 changed border issues?

Note. There is a mistake in Table 7.1 in the column headings. The word “Mariel” should be in the last, not the next to last column.