Ethnicity and Crime

Ethnicity is a well‐known and longstanding correlate of crime. Research generally uses this term as synonymous with race, although the two terms often refer to different constructs. In this vein, ethnicity as it applies to criminology and criminal justice research conducted in the United States generally is focused on Hispanics, whereas research outside of the United States considers ethnicity in a broader context representing any number of demographic/ethnic groups. Recognizing this reality, this entry provides a brief review of Hispanics (and immigrant Hispanics from countries outside of the United States) as an example of the role of ethnicity in criminology and criminal justice research.