Reconsidering the Immigration–Crime Nexus in Europe: Ethnic Differences in Juvenile Delinquency

Abstract

This chapter examines inter-ethnic differences in juvenile delinquency in the four CILS4EU countries. I employ a finer-grained and more comparable breakdown by generational status and ethnic origin than previous research. Although in some countries certain generations and groups exhibit greater prevalence rates, there is no general pattern of intergenerational differences and most group differences are statistically insignificant. The most consistent finding is the greater prevalence of high offending among minority boys in all four countries. With the exception of England, this pattern is largely due to differences in students’ self-control, moral beliefs and routine activities. Finally, I examine how language use and majority-group friendships relate to delinquency among minority students. Results show that in all countries having more majority-group friends tends to be associated with lower rates of delinquency. This casts into doubt the idea that minority students’ integration into native peer cultures puts them at risk.