Ethnicity and Juvenile Street Gangs in France (From Street Gangs, Migration and Ethnicity, P 156-172, 2008, Frank van Gemert, Dana Peterson, and Inger-Lise Lien, eds. -- See NCJ-225264)

• NCJ Number: 225274
• Author(s): Coralie Fiori-Khayat
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This chapter discusses whether or not juvenile street gangs exist in France, and if so, the link between juvenile street gangs in Paris suburbs and the ethnic concerns characteristic of suburban areas around Paris and other major French cities.

Abstract

This study found that juvenile street gangs, as characterized by the “Eurogang” definition do exist in France, especially in Paris suburbs. A “juvenile street gang,” according to the Eurogang definition, is “a youth gang, or troublesome youth group, that is a durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of their group identity.” These groups roam the streets mostly in order to commit offenses together. Offenses may include property offenses (thefts, arson, burglaries, and robberies); personal offenses (rape, assault, and aggravated assault); or even trafficking (mobile phones and drugs). A second key finding is that juvenile street-gang members tend to use their ethnicity and ethnic issues as a justification for some, but not all, their offenses. Feeling that they are discriminated against by mainstream society, they view their offenses as justified retaliation. Ethnic background in itself, however, does not distinguish juvenile street gangs from nondelinquent youth peer groups. Common ethnicity plays the same role for membership in both deviant and nondeviant juvenile peer groups. When a peer group becomes delinquent and even develops into a gang, ethnicity may become important to the group as they perceive common disadvantages based on discrimination. Juvenile gangs who commit criminal acts out of feelings of discrimination tend to target French Caucasians, whom they view as the primary purveyors of racism. Ethnic themes in gang behavior, however, have not turned into political messages or political action groups. The current study consisted of qualitative interviews and case studies. Each teen was interviewed once for approximately 2 hours. 7 notes and 56 references