No white-feathered crows: Chinese immigrants' and Vietnamese refugees' adaptation to American legal institutions

The present study examines factors that have affected the adaptation of recent Asian arrivals to the American legal environment, and to examine differences in reaction between Chinese immigrants and Vietnamese refugees. Community leaders were interviewed for their perception of Asian attitudes toward and use of three legal institutions--the police, lawyers, and courts. This information was used to construct a questionnaire which was administered to one Chinese and one Vietnamese community in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.;This study found that a person's English facility and his or her perception regarding police insensitivity to Asian culture, and prior respect for the police in Asians' home countries stand out as three strong factors that affect the relationships between Asian residents and the police.;Asian subjects believed that gang and organized crime activities were a major concern in their communities; yet, they did not believe that these activities occurred regularly in their communities. Ethnic community leaders interviewed argued that the law enforcement people exaggerated the problem and influence of Asian gangs and organized crime.;Most Asians in the study believe that they enjoy more legal rights in the U.S. than they did at home, but they do not know exactly what their legal rights are. Nonetheless, knowledge of legal rights is necessary for Chinese immigrants and Vietnamese refugees to exercise their legal rights. Little experience with American courts prevents Asian refugees and immigrants who are already culturally inhibited about courts from coming forward with their grievances and disputes. Recent Asian arrivals have not translated their educational and economic success into auspicious adaptation to American legal institutions. Education about the adversarial court proceedings can be a path to hasten the Asian immigrants' and refugees' adaptation into the American court system and its relationship with other legal institutions.;Although coming from a similar cultural background, Chinese immigrants and Vietnamese refugees manifested differences regarding their adaptation to the new legal environment.;While Asians may manifest symptoms of maladjustment to American legal institutions similar to those of other minorities, causes for maladjustment differ. Non-traditional measures are called for to address unique issues of Asian legal adaptation.