CONTEMPORARY ISSUES CONCERNING MIGRATION AND CRIME IN AUSTRALIA (FROM AUSTRALIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM, 2 D ED., 1977, BY DUNCAN CHAPPELL AND PAUL WILSON - SEE NCJ-50316)

• NCJ Number: 50318
• Author(s): R D FRANCIS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Butterworth
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

THE DISADVANTAGES OF MIGRANTS UNDER THE LAW, THE FINDINGS OF MIGRANT CRIME STUDIES, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPROVED POLICY IN THE APPROACH OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TOWARD MIGRANTS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT THE PROBLEM OF MIGRANT CRIME IN AUSTRALIA OPERATES THE LARGEST CONTROLLED/ASSISTED MIGRATION PROGRAM IN THE WORLD. IN LIGHT OF THIS FACT, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THERE IS A COMPARATIVE PAUCITY OF RESEARCH ON THE MIGRANT AND CRIME IN AUSTRALIA. THE PRESSING NEED TO IDENTIFY TYPES OF MIGRANTS AS THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPING MIGRANT STATISTICS FOR THE SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS WITHIN AUSTRALIA IS EXPRESSED. FROM STUDIES CONDUCTED UP TO THE PRESENT, FINDINGS INDICATE THAT MIGRANTS CONSTITUTE A LOWER CRIME RISK THAN DO NATIVES, WHILE THE SECOND GENERATION FROM MIGRANT PARENTS ARE DEEMED INTERMEDIATE RISKS; NEW ZEALAND AND YUGOSLAV MIGRANTS, HOWEVER, ARE AN EXCEPTION TO THIS GENERAL FINDING. THE INCREASED RISK OF SECOND GENERATION MIGRANTS IS NOTED TO PARALLEL THE FINDING OF A UNITED STATES STUDY SHOWING THAT ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR INCREASES AS CONTACTS WITH THE HOST COMMUNITY INCREASE. IN CONSIDERING RESEARCH NEEDS, IT IS INDICATED THAT A THOROUGH DESCRIPTION OF MIGRATION PROBLEMS WOULD DEAL NOT ONLY WITH CRIME, ECONOMIC FACTORS, AND CULTURE CONFLICT, BUT ALSO WITH TOTAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT. THESE FINDINGS WOULD FORM THE BASIS FOR RATIONAL POLICY IN INFLUENCING THE SOCIOECONOMIC MILIEU AFFECTING MIGRANTS. (RCB)