NCJ Number
50053
Date Published
1978
Length
145 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND RELATED READINGS, FOCUSED ON JUVENILE GANGS, DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AND SUGGEST METHODS OF PREVENTING AND ERADICATING IT.
Abstract
TERRORISM IS DEFINED AS AN AGGREGATE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, MANIFESTING ITSELF IN POLITICAL ANARCHY, PRISON GANGS, STREET GANGS, AND CRIMINAL MOTORCYCLE GANGS. IT IS AN ACT OR THREAT WHICH IS INTENDED TO COERCE BY INSTILLING FEAR AND/OR ANXIETY IN PEOPLE. CHARACTERISTICS WHICH DISPOSE PEOPLE TO TERRORISM ARE IDENTIFIED AS IMMATURE AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AND A DESIRE TO OVERCOME UNREALISTIC SOCIAL BARRIERS. THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK REVEALS THE INITIATION PRACTICES OF PRISON GANGS AND CRIMINAL MOTORCYCLIST GROUPS. THE RITES ARE DESIGNED TO DESTROY THE INITIATE'S OLD IDENTITIES AND ESTABLISH IN HIM A GROUP IDENTITY. THE NATURE OF THE TERRORIST'S ACTS IN GENERAL AND OF THOSE WHO PERPETRATE THESE ACTS AGAINST SOCIETY ARE DESCRIBED. THE REPRINTED ARTICLES FURTHER DELINEATE THE SPECIFIC IDENTITIES OF THE MORE VIOLENT ACTORS AND SUGGEST POSSIBLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES WHICH CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO REDUCE ACTED-OUT BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. THE USE OF DRUGS, FIREARMS, AND BOMBS IN TERRORISM ARE EXAMINED. A REPRINT OF THE INTRODUCTION TO THE REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON DISORDERS AND TERRORISM, PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LEAA IN 1976 IS INCLUDED. IT ILLUSTRATES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS COGNIZANT OF THE TERRORIST PROBLEM IN SOCIETY, AND IT INDICATES THAT A COHESIVE NATIONAL EFFORT MUST BE INITIATED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PRISONS CAN BE IMPROVED BY ERADICATING THE CONDITIONS WHICH PERPETRATE INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE, AND BIKER GANGS CAN BE COERCED OR PERSUADED TO AVOID A SPECIFIC LOCALITY. TOTAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IS ESSENTIAL. TABULAR DATA, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JCP)