A Multi-Racial-Ethnic Model of Perceived Neighborhood Crime

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between Seattle residents' perceptions of the racial-ethnic composition of their neighborhood and their perceptions of neighborhood crime. The study uses questions about perceptions of neighborhood crime from the Seattle Neighborhood Crime Survey, matched with census data and police department crime statistics. Perceptions of more Black neighbors are positively associated with perceptions of the neighborhood crime level, even after controlling for crime rates, objective measures of race, and other neighborhood- and individual-level factors associated with crime. Perceptions of more Latino neighbors and Asian neighbors did not show the same effect on perceived neighborhood crime. This suggests that, among racial/ethnic minorities, Blacks experience the greatest racial discrimination and supports the view that racial stereotypes influence perceptions of neighborhood crime. Variation in effects by race of the perceiver and implications for future research are discussed.