NCJ Number
167180
Date Published
1997
Length
122 pages
Annotation
Pursuant to authorization under the 1996 Virginia General Assembly's House Joint Resolution 92, this study presents findings on the prevalence, organization, and criminal activities of youth gangs in Virginia and recommends strategies to reduce or eliminate youth gangs.
Abstract
The study was conducted jointly by the Commission on Youth and the Virginia State Crime Commission. Three workgroups were established to assist in this study effort: survey design, prevention and intervention, and law enforcement and prosecution. Both commissions heard formal presentations by law enforcement officials, academic researchers, and direct service personnel on both the characteristics and prevalence of youth gangs and successful prevention and intervention strategies. Three public hearings were held across the State to provide input to the study. All local law enforcement agencies and juvenile court service unit directors were surveyed on their knowledge of the prevalence of youth gangs and their specified procedures for responding to this population. All juveniles committed to a juvenile correctional center between July 15 and September 20 and more than 800 juveniles in secure detention were interviewed about their gang involvement. The presence of youth gangs was reported by law enforcement and court service unit directors in 32 cities and counties statewide. Despite the definitional variations across the State regarding the identification of youth gangs, there is agreement on the need for increased monitoring, data collection, and training on youth gangs. Many communities across the State have components of a comprehensive gang prevention, intervention, and suppression strategy in place; however, no community has fully implemented a comprehensive approach as presented and recommended in this report. Given the local nature of gang recruitment and activity and the high mobility of gangs, approaches must combine neighborhood-based intervention with interjurisdictional collaboration to share gang-related intelligence. Twelve recommendations are offered to assist Virginia in stemming the tide of youth gang violence. Appended study instruments and survey responses, along with a 22-item bibliography