NCJ Number
225269
Date Published
2008
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This chapter presents the first results of research on Latin-American youth in Barcelona (Spain) and their presence in the city’s public life, with attention to Latin gangs.
Abstract
Initial results from research that began in 2005 refute the media stance on Latin youth in Barcelona, which has molded public opinion. This chapter presents a variety of qualitative data that suggest street youth in Spain’s cities consist of an incipient group-based entity that has not yet progressed to criminal gangs. There are street-oriented youth groups with names, symbols, and long-established traditions, with members from deprived social backgrounds. Some members are involved in illegal activities, although these criminal activities are not part of the group identity. In 2005, the Catalan police identified over 20 such groups in Barcelona and its metropolitan area that could be included in the “Latin gang” classification, having approximately 2,000 members. This is no more than 5 percent of the Latin-American youth population. A minority of these youth had been involved with the justice system. Although these groups are apparently stable over time, there is no evidence that these groups perceive themselves as primarily existing to commit crimes. Their focus is on protecting one another, constructing a social identity, and expressing familial affection. Members of these alleged gangs come from various Latin-American communities, settling in Barcelona since the mid-1980s. In this period, Spain became one of the primary destinations for immigrants, with most coming from Spain’s former colonies. For the current study, the first phase of fieldwork was conducted in 2005-06 and included approximately 30 individual interviews with boys and girls from various Latin-American countries, 5 focus groups at secondary schools, 30 interviews with adults, media analysis, and participant observation in public spaces. 4 notes and 17 references