NCJ Number
19267
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1975) Pages: 139-148
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
EXPLORES STREET HUSTLING AS A DISTINCT SOCIAL TYPOLOGY AND DESCRIBES THE GENERAL TRAITS AND BEHAVIORAL VALUES TYPICALLY STRESSED BY STREET HUSTLERS.
Abstract
'STREET HUSTLING' IS A COMPREHENSIVE TERM FOR VARIOUS CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES BY AN INCREASING NUMBER OF URBAN YOUTH. ITS OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE LARGE SUMS OF MONEY QUICKLY WITHOUT A WANTON DISPLAY OF VIOLENCE. SUCCESSFUL HUSTLING HAS GIVEN RISE TO AN ILLICIT LIFE STYLE CHARACTERIZED BY OPULENCE AND PERSONAL DISTRUSTS OF THOSE INVOLVED. IT HAS ALSO INFLUENCED ESSENTIALLY NONCRIMINAL AND PRECRIMINAL YOUTH TO VIEW A LIFE OF CRIME AS A DESIRABLE ALTERNATIVE TO MORE CONVENTIONAL CAREER PURSUITS. STREET HUSTLERS, THEIR CRIMES, AND THEIR GENERAL CRIMINAL ORIENTATION ARE DISCUSSED AS DISTINCT FEATURES OF ONE WEST COAST CITY. BLACK MALE HUSTLERS ARE OF PRIMARY CONCERN IN THIS ARTICLE ALTHOUGH, IN FACT, CRIMINAL HUSTLERS ARE BOTH MALE AND FEMALE AND ARE FROM VARIOUS RACIAL AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)