NCJ Number
229864
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 2010 Pages: 36-51
Date Published
2010
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A summary of findings is presented from a comprehensive research study conducted under the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission on the nature and extent of gangs and gang crime in North Carolina.
Abstract
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center, which is the research section under the Governor's Crime Commission, has been conducting gang research for over a decade to document the nature and extent of gangs and gang crime across the State. Given this work and the agency's familiarity with the gang issue the State legislature requested that the Commission conduct a comprehensive research study. This article presents selected and condensed findings from the full report which was presented to the legislature in March of 2008. Surveys were mailed to all law enforcement agencies in the State with a return rate of 32 percent being obtained from 161 responding agencies which are located in 75 of the State's 100 counties. A total of 1,446 gangs were identified by the respondents which were subsequently reduced down to 550 gangs when a uniform standardized definition was applied. Demographic attributes and criminal activities associated with these gangs are presented and contrasted with prior research findings. Projections are also computed in order to obtain estimates on the number of gang members that may be present by 2012. Five salient policy and program recommendations were offered to assist the legislature to more effectively address the gang issue in North Carolina. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)