NCJ Number
213694
Date Published
June 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
After reporting on national trends in gang problems in small towns and rural counties in the United States, this paper suggests steps for developing an antigang action plan.
Abstract
National trends in gang problems are documented through the National Youth Gang Survey (NYGS), which annually surveys a representative sample of law enforcement agencies across the country to determine the presence and characteristics of local gang problems. The NYGS indicates that although a number of smaller city and rural county agencies reported gang problems from 1996 through 2001, most of these agencies experienced unstable, intermittent gang problems that were comparatively minor in terms of the number of gangs and gang members and impact on the community. Population shifts, however, particularly in relation to the large influx of immigrants, may change this trend, as language barriers and the marginalization of immigrant groups may foster more gang formation and affiliation. Steps in developing a local antigang action plan are to acknowledge the gang problem based on an objective assessment; develop an agreement among stakeholders to cooperate in addressing potential and actual gang problems; conduct an objective assessment of the gang problem by using the NYGC (National Youth Gang Center) gang problem assessment protocol; set goals and objectives once the gang problem is analyzed; develop and integrate relevant services and strategies through the use of the NYGC planning and implementation guide; and develop and evaluate the gang strategy. 1 table, 3 notes, and 19 references