On Serving the Ignored: Latinos, Crime and the Criminal Justice System

There are nuanced distinctions among Latinos, such as the differences between those native to the United States and those who are recent immigrants.There are also certain cultural factors that differentiate Latinos from other populations in the United States. Therefore, policies targeting factors in Latino communities, such as crime prevention, educational interventions, and community development, can (and should) take these unique cultural qualities into account. The range of the Latino experience is expansive, and the diversity within the population requires more embracement. It is essential to acknowledge and examine that variation, as it is to remember that many of the stereotypes surrounding Latinos and immigrants have been recycled from the past, and that previous research informs the present