VIOLENCE BY YOUTH GANGS AND YOUTH GROUPS IN MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES - SUMMARY REPORT

• NCJ Number: 34289
• Author(s): W B MILLER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-NI-99-0047
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Harvard University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS SUMMARY REVEALS THAT URBAN YOUTH GANGS ARE NOT ONLY BACK, BUT IT APPEARS THAT IN MANY CASES THEY NEVER LEFT; THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE AUTHOR'S VISITS TO TWELVE CITIES, SIX OF WHICH HAVE BIG GANG PROBLEMS.

Abstract

NOT CONTENT ONLY TO CLAIM THE STREET AS THEIR 'TURF', SOME YOUTH GANGS HAVE SHIFTED PART OF THEIR OPERATIONS TO SCHOOLS, WHERE THEY HAVE TAKEN 'CONTROL' OF CAFETERIAS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND HALLWAYS -- SHAKING DOWN STUDENTS FOR PERMISSION TO USE THEM AND TERRORIZING TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THE MOVE TO THE SCHOOLS IS ONE CHANGE IN THE HABITS AND STYLE OF YOUTH GANGS OF THE MID-1970'S. ANOTHER IS THE INCREASED USE OF GUNS. A THIRD IS A TENDENCY TO SPEND LESS TIME AND ENERGY FIGHTING EACH OTHER IN FAVOR OF PREYING ON INNOCENTS. THE RESULT, SAYS THE AUTHOR OF THE STUDY, IS THAT YOUTH GANGS IN AMERICA TODAY ARE MORE LETHAL THAN EVER BEFORE, ARE TERRORIZING GREATER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, AND IN GENERAL CONSTITUTE A NATIONAL CRIME PROBLEM OF THE FIRST MAGNITUDE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE GANGS ARE NOT EASILY SUCCUMBING TO ATTEMPTS AT SUPPRESSING THEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)