NCJ Number
184036
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: Summer 2000 Pages: 13-28
Date Published
2000
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This research examined whether there is a possibility or a need for private corporations to become involved in gang prevention.
Abstract
The data were obtained from a survey of companies and corporations in a major city in the southern United States (n=67). Three research questions were asked. Are the workplaces affected by gang activities? Are there gang activities in schools where employees send their children? Is there a possibility or a need for private corporations to support any gang-prevention program in their workplaces? The survey shows that almost 90 percent of the respondents had a mission statement that supports community involvement, and 75 percent had it posted in a prominent place or places. Sixty-nine percent reported that they had written values for community involvement. Others reported that community values were communicated in some other forms, such as handbooks or employee publications. The nature of community involvement can be grouped into four categories: financial support, community activities, professional services/volunteerism, and use of facility. Only 12 percent of the companies had "adopted" a neighborhood. This paper argues that a corporation-based approach to gang prevention should be explored. Such an approach should emphasize jobs and job-training opportunities for youth, especially ex-gang members and "wanna-bes." Further, companies and corporations should incorporate more reach-out strategies to prevent youths from joining gangs. Finally, a corporation-based approach to gang prevention should provide assistance to those employees (parents) whose children are attending schools with gang problems. Appended questionnaire and 13 references