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Law-Abiding Immigrants: The Incarceration Gap Between Immigrants and the US-born, 1870–2020

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Listed:
  • Ran Abramitzky
  • Leah Platt Boustan
  • Elisa Jácome
  • Santiago Pérez
  • Juan David Torres

Abstract

We provide the first nationally representative long-run series (1870–2020) of incarceration rates for immigrants and the US-born. As a group, immigrants have had lower incarceration rates than the US-born for 150 years. Moreover, relative to the US-born, immigrants’ incarceration rates have declined since 1960: immigrants today are 60% less likely to be incarcerated (30% relative to US-born whites). This relative decline occurred among immigrants from all regions and cannot be explained by changes in immigrants’ observable characteristics or immigration policy. Instead, the decline is part of a broader divergence of outcomes between less-educated immigrants and their US-born counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Ran Abramitzky & Leah Platt Boustan & Elisa Jácome & Santiago Pérez & Juan David Torres, 2023. "Law-Abiding Immigrants: The Incarceration Gap Between Immigrants and the US-born, 1870–2020," NBER Working Papers 31440, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31440
    Note: DAE LS
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    JEL classification:

    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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