NCJ Number
145078
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1993) Pages: 134-145
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Interviews were conducted with 22 youths (20 males) identified as belonging to gangs based at three local high schools in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Nineteen of the labeled gang members were Hispanic and the remaining three were black.
Abstract
When asked whether their community had a gang problem, 11 youths answered either that there was no problem or that it was not serious, while nine disagreed. Many of the respondents exhibited an ambivalence about their gang membership, indicating they did not wish their parents to know about their affiliation or their younger siblings to become involved in gangs. However, most participants did not want to leave their gang or could not envision themselves outside of their gang. While most respondents reported having good relationships with their families, extended conversations illuminated some family frictions and gang involvement on the part of other family members. The most significant factor in gang involvement seemed to be peer influence. 4 notes and 18 references