NCJ Number
194290
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 25 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 64-67
Date Published
December 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the status of gang activity in the United States.
Abstract
Nationally, violent crime has reportedly decreased, but the article claims that there has not been a similar change in violent gang crimes. In fact, in Southern California there was some indication that violent gang crime was going up, perhaps in reaction to the word on the street that "the cops were moving out." Gang units are losing support across the country, for political and budgetary reasons. The article suggests that downsizing or eliminating gang task forces is unwise because gang crime is simply not going to go away. In addition, an increasing number of gangs have moved into committing non-violent crimes, e.g., check and credit card fraud, drug sales, prostitution, extortion, and smuggling undocumented aliens into the country. Gangs are using the Internet to recruit, communicate, spread their message, and even to plan their crimes. All of these crimes should be investigated by personnel familiar with not only the technical aspects (computers and the Internet) but also with gangs and gang activities.