NCJ Number
197525
Date Published
2003
Length
257 pages
Annotation
This textbook provides an introduction to the topic of gangs from a community perspective.
Abstract
This textbook is designed for courses about gangs, criminology, juvenile delinquency, and social problems, among others. The authors present a wide range of research about gangs and their members, which they present from a community perspective. The authors explain that it is important to examine gangs from the perspective of the environment in which they live and operate; from their community. According to this perspective, knowledge of the communities in which crime exists is necessary to understanding the meaning of this crime. During their research for this book, the authors interviewed gang members and they present their perspectives throughout the textbook, through the inclusion of quotations. Chapter one discusses the definition of gangs and gang members. Quotations from gang members are included in this chapter. Chapter two identifies ways gangs are linked with escalating delinquency, drawing from community based field studies. Chapter three describes every phase in the gang experience, again drawing heavily on quotations from actual gang members. Drugs and gangs are the focus of chapter four. Roles within the drug trade among gang members, and the level of control gang members exert over drug sales, within and without the gang are examined. Females in gangs are examined in chapter five, focusing on why they joined and the roles they play. Many other social groups are impacted by the gang presence within them. Chapter six discusses their family interactions, as well as involvement in schools, jobs, and neighborhoods. Recent State and Federal initiatives are examined in chapter seven, providing a “report card” of successful interventions directed toward interrupting gang violence, drug sales, crime, and gang membership. The last chapter, chapter eight, presents issues for the reader to consider and also offers a description of several policy initiatives that could be used in the fight against gang violence. Figures, references, index