NCJ Number
165304
Date Published
1996
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Using a sample of 62 male subjects who were former or active members of Chinese gangs, this study examined the extent of gang violence in New York City's Chinatown and the frequency, type, and causes of such violence.
Abstract
The sample included ordinary gang members, street leaders, and faction leaders. Most gang respondents were born in Hong Kong or China, most had completed junior high school and were attending school or working, about half had an arrest record, and nine had served time in prison. Interviews were conducted by a female Chinese interviewer using a standardized questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. Chinese gang members appeared to be quite active in committing violent crimes. Most gang members reported regular or frequent involvement in assault, shooting, and robbery. Gang violence could be categorized in terms of intergang violence, intragang violence, and aggression against nongang victims, and intergang violence was the most common type of violence. Gang members were active in providing protection to vice operations in Chinatown, but this activity was not reported to be a factor in promoting violence. Chinese merchants were rarely assaulted by gang members. In general, drug use, drug trafficking, protection rackets, and community politics appeared to have little influence on gang violence in New York City's Chinatown. 15 notes and 4 tables