NCJ Number
148935
Journal
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Volume: 20 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1992) Pages: 439-449
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study used a 2 X 2 design to examine family relations, peer relations, and criminal activities of 131 incarcerated juvenile male offenders. The sample was divided into four groups: white gang members, white nongang members, Hispanic gang members, and Hispanic nongang members.
Abstract
The results clearly demonstrated a higher rate of reported criminal behavior among gang members than among incarcerated youth who did not belong to a gang. Gang members reported a mean of 73 index offenses during the past year, more than twice the number reported by serious offenders who were not gang members. White youths reported more general delinquency and home delinquency than did the Hispanic adolescents, possibly suggesting the positive influence exerted by cohesive ethnic neighborhoods among Hispanics as well as greater respect for parental authority. Between-group differences were not observed for family relations, mother- adolescent relations, or father-adolescent relations, indicating that domestic problems are not associated with gang membership any more than with other types of serious antisocial behavior. Gang members were more aggressive and less socially mature than offenders who did not belong to gangs. While Hispanic and white gang members reported similar peer relations, there was no evidence that gang members had a higher degree of emotional bonding with their friends than did nongang offenders. 1 table and 36 references