NCJ Number
149035
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1949) Pages: 22-29
Date Published
1949
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Factors causing individual delinquent behavior were evaluated in a New York City project involving street gangs in the late 1940's.
Abstract
Project goals were to reduce antisocial behavior, to develop a local area committee to deal with neighborhood problems, and to determine if the project approach could be adapted in other areas. During the 2-year project, a relationship was established with four aggressive, antisocial gangs. Each gang had a history of violent gang warfare, weapon carrying, stealing, rape, and drug use. Gang members ranged in age from 11 to 23 years. Gang structure was generally loose; the smallest gang had about 35 members, while the largest gang had approximately 100 members. Gangs operated in a depressed area of New York City where health, housing, educational, and recreational facilities were inadequate. The setting for the average youth was one of poverty, value conflict, bitterness, anxiety, fear, and antisociality. The gang intervention project started in 1947. Relationships between gang members and case workers were usually established in accordance with gang member initiatives. Gang members participated in games, bull sessions, block parties, and card playing, and some went on weekend camping trips. The case worker role varied in relation to gang needs. For example, boys asked case workers to arbitrate a dispute, find them a job, or provide personal advice. The project sought to offer assistance to the community by developing resources and stimulating local community action. An evaluation of the project indicated that boys spent increasingly more time in constructive and satisfying activities, certain forms of antisocial behavior decreased, boys were able to establish a relationship with adult case workers, group relations improved, and boys began to recognize the availability of community resources.