NCJ Number
149155
Journal
Wisconsin Sociologist Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1987) Pages: 132-150
Date Published
1987
Length
19 pages
Annotation
In 1985, the Racine (Wisconsin) Gang Project conducted a survey of 543 adults to determine their perceptions, reactions, and solutions to the local gang situation.
Abstract
The survey dealt specifically with respondents' direct and indirect contact with youth gang members, demographic background, attitudes related to youth gangs and youth in general, and perceptions of who gang members are. The results showed that 81 percent of respondents believed there was a gang problem in Racine; most characterized the problem as moderate to large. Most people believed there were at least three to five different gangs in the city. According to the survey, 24 percent of respondents had been approached by a gang member and 34 percent had a friend who had been approached. Most gang activity occurred in the inner city, with the least amount of activity occurred in upper middle class white neighborhoods. Community members believed gangs to be comprised of males living in inner city areas; they did not specify age or racial groups. This article also contains several comments and critiques of the study. 5 tables and 50 references