Response Strategies to Youth Gang Activity

• NCJ Number: 86667
• Author(s): W V Stapleton; J A Needle
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): 79-JN-AX-0013; 77-JN-99-0008 S-1; 77-NI-99-0009; 77-JN-99-0008 S-2
• Sponsoring Agency: US Securities and Exchange Cmssn
• Corporate Author: American Justice Institute
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Information Series on Juvenile Justice

Annotation

This study diagnoses fragmentation and an absence of accountability among community programs targeting youth gang activity, and a comprehensive community gang control program model is presented, along with suggestions for evaluating gang control efforts.

Abstract

Generally, police are attempting to prevent and control youth gang problems through systems characterized by substantial fragmentation. This results from the myriad of public, private, and law enforcement agencies targeting youth gangs and youth gang members. Data on interagency relationships suggest agencies function independently and without formal communication. Further, the consequences of fragmentation and absence of accountability have not been subject to systematic analysis, leading to a poor investment of organizational and financial resources. Frequently, gang members become frustrated and angered by the barrage of inconsistent advice, guidance, and program options. The proposed comprehensive community gang control program is a structural approach designed to direct the activities of all relevant organizations toward common goals without materially impairing the autonomy of participating agencies. Every organization concerned with the welfare of gang members or potential gang members should be involved in the program. Countywide organization is preferable since it enables county and municipal agencies to participate. The program should be given formal status and be governed by the representatives of participating agencies. Operations of the coordinating committee may include (1) determining the extent of a community's gang problem, (2) analyzing the gang population, (3) establishing objectives, (4) formulating programmatic responses, (5) mobilizing the necessary resources to use the strategies selected, (6) evaluating program results, and (7) training program participants. In addition to the development of measurable objectives for a gang control program, evaluation efforts should create reliable standards, acquaint police departments with the standards, and define the types of information required to implement the standards. Fourteen footnotes are listed.