Strategies and Perceived Agency Effectiveness in Dealing With the Youth Gang Problem (From Gangs in America, P 288-309, 1990, C Ronald Huff, ed. -- See NCJ-125752)

• NCJ Number: 125766
• Author(s): I A Spergel; G D Curry
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 22 pages
• Grant Number(s): 87-JS-CX-K100(S-1)
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Data from a national survey formed the basis of an analysis of the outcomes of efforts to suppress and intervene in youth gangs.

Abstract

The survey gathered data from 254 criminal justice agencies, community service agencies, and other organizations in 45 cities and 6 institutional sites. The analysis focused on five types of program strategies: community organization, social intervention, provision of opportunities, suppression, and organizational development and change. The cities were also characterized as having either chronic or emerging gang problems. Findings showed that suppression and social intervention were the most prevalent strategies, but other approaches should be the dominant strategies. Thus, results showed the importance of a combination of community organization and the provision of opportunities. In addition, the crucial components of the problem of youth gangs are economic deprivation, lack of opportunities, social disorganization, and the failure of community institutions. Tables.