NCJ Number
222482
Date Published
September 2007
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This report presents data from surveys of Arizona law enforcement and prosecutor agencies as well as 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade youth in Arizona, in order to obtain information on youth gangs, gang members, and gang activity in the State.
Abstract
Nearly half (42.7 percent) of Arizona law enforcement agencies reported that gangs were active in their jurisdictions. Of these agencies, nearly 70 percent reported that the gang problem was "very" serious or "somewhat" serious, and 43 percent reported that the gang problem worsened between 2004 and 2005. Increased levels of gang membership between 2004 and 2006 were also indicated in student responses to the Arizona Youth Survey. Drug offenses and assaults were the two most often reported criminal activities of gang members, followed by graffiti, theft, burglary, and criminal damage. One-third of the agencies with a gang problem reported that gangs were involved in human smuggling. Methamphetamine was the most frequently reported drug being used, sold, or trafficked by gang members, followed by marijuana and cocaine/crack. Neighborhood street gangs, gang members returning from prison, and gang members migrating from California were reported to be significant contributors to the gang problem. The percentage of 8th, 10th, and 12th-graders who self-reported current gang membership increased from 3 percent in 2004 to 3.6 percent in 2006. Analysis of survey findings estimated that approximately 8,300 youth in the 3 grade levels were gang members throughout the State. Students who reported gang membership also reported a higher level of drug use and violence than youth who were not gang members. The survey of law enforcement and prosecutor agencies was conducted in the summer of 2006, and the Arizona Youth Survey was conducted in the spring of 2006. 22 tables and 6 references