This research describes and compares the crime involvement and victimization of different immigrant groups and of the native population in Finland. In addition, we explore if the differences between the studied population groups are related to underlying socio-demographic factors or other relevant risk factors.

Data. The study uses both register and survey-based data. The registerbased analysis involved a case-control design, in which a weighted random sample of the entire population (the control group) was contrasted with another sample of offenders (the case group). The case group comprised a 50 % sample of selected police-reported crimes (assault, theft, robbery, rape) during 2010–2011 (N=50,240). The control group (N=167,727) was
sampled from the Population Register, representing the demographic situation at the end of the year 2011. The linking of crime and sociodemographic data was based on personal identification numbers. Immigrant status was defined by the country of birth and by language. All persons who were born abroad were considered as first-generation immigrants. Persons who were born in Finland and who spoke other-than native languages were defined as second-generation immigrants.

Analyses of survey data were based on two nationally representative surveys conducted in 2012. Finnish Self-Report Delinquency Survey data from the sweep of 2012 (N=8,914) incorporates questions of self-reported delinquency and victimization as outcome variables. Respondents were 12- 13 years (6th graders, N=4,059) and 15–16 years old (9th graders, N=4,855). National Crime Victim Survey (N=7,746) measured the victimization of the adult population and included respondents who were between the ages of 15–74 years and who were living permanently in Finland at the time of the survey. A respondent’s immigration status was defined in both surveys with reference to the respondent’s birthplace and the birthplace of his or her parents.

Results. The results suggest that, compared to the native population, some of the immigrant groups have significantly higher crime and victimization rates for property and violent crimes. However, the differences in crime rates are larger between the immigrant groups, than between immigrants (as a single aggregated category) and natives. The criminal involvement of immigrant groups, thus, varies considerably. There are groups with crime and victimization rates that are higher than the corresponding rate in the majority populations. Meanwhile, other immigrant groups manifest belowaverage offending and victimization risks. In all of the demographic groups, the majority of persons were not involved in crimes as victims or offenders.

In adult immigrant population, high risk of crime is related to high risk of victimization. This partly reflects the fact that a large proportion of violent crimes take place among members of the same immigrant group. In a comparison of register-based studies in Finland, Sweden and Norway show considerable similarities in levels of property and violent crimes among different immigrant groups. The same applies to observed differences between immigrants (as a single aggregated category) and the native population.

Register-based multivariate analyses were conducted to ascertain whether or not the crime-immigration link is spurious, as immigration status can be a proxy for social disadvantage. Adjustments for age, gender, and income decreased the immigrants’ higher risks of crime and victimization, compared to natives. However, the risk difference remained significant. The difference between immigrants and natives was in part explained by the high proportion of young men and low-median income level of immigrants. These factors explained even less differences between the immigrant groups. In the survey-based analyses, routine activities, parental control, and family socio-economics were related to immigrant youths’ higher risks of delinquency and victimization.

The study concludes with a discussion of how integration policies can help reduce the risk of criminal victimization and offending in immigrant groups. The findings point towards the importance of social policy measures that promote the employment, education, residential desegregation, and language-skills trainings of immigrants. Furthermore, it might be beneficial if youth policies and youth work provide and promote structured leisure activities among immigrant youths.

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