NCJ Number
147194
Date Published
1956
Length
195 pages
Annotation
This study of one New York City juvenile gang ("The Balkans") focuses on its origin and development through several gang-war events and social-organization changes over a 10-month period.
Abstract
An anthropological field study was used to collect the data. Study methods included interviews with gang members, systematic recording of field study notes, the use of questionnaires. The use of two gang leaders as paid research assistants, and the use of data from a diary of a gang leader. Section I examines the role of gang theory and research in criminology and describes the research methodology. Section II presents and analyzes the data. This section describes the natural history of the Balkans from its origin as a social system through the series of events and conditions encountered in their development. Statements about the gang's motivation and ideology are presented in gang members' own words. One chapter in this section analyzes five social dimensions of gang organization and behavior: motives for origin and formation; membership characteristics and gang organization; gang leaders and leadership; gang integration and cohesion; and gang divisions, affiliations, and alliances. Section III discusses conclusions and implications of gang theory and research. A 68-item bibliography