Study of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey: Gang Membership Among Youth

• NCJ Number: 207604
• Author(s): Charles M. Katz Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2004
• Length: 66 pages
• Corporate Author: Arizona Criminal Justice Cmssn
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Arizona Criminal Justice Cmssn
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded November 1, 2004.

Annotation

Using data from the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey, this report examines the correlates of gang involvement; the relationships among gangs, crime, and drugs; and the influence of gang participation on school performance, school behavior, and school climate.

Abstract

The 2002 Arizona Youth Survey was randomly administered to 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in 63 schools across the State, yielding 12,203 valid questionnaires. The survey examined risk and protective factors in the domains of community, family, school, and individual-peer. Approximately 7 percent of males and 4.6 percent of females reported they were gang members. Thirty-two percent of these were age 13 and under, and 77 percent were minorities. Gang members were less likely than nongang members to live with two parents, and gang members were approximately three times more likely to live with someone other than a parent. Gang members were more likely to have used alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and any drug in their lifetime compared to nongang members. Gang membership was a strong predictor of drug dealing. Female gang members were as likely as male gang members to engage in delinquent behavior, drug use, and drug sales, but with less frequency. Gang members were 3.4 times more likely to bring a weapon to school in the past 30 days and 10.5 times more likely to have brought a gun to school in the past year. Respondents who attended schools with a serious gang problem were more likely to report delinquency and victimization and fear for their safety than students who attended schools with a minor or moderate gang problem. This report advises that gang prevention efforts should target youth who are exposed to the most risk factors for gang membership and attempt to reduce the number of risk factors in the environments of these youth. Diverse intervention strategies are required to address the specific factors that draw youth into gangs. 27 exhibits and appended Youth Survey questionnaire