NCJ Number
236625
Date Published
June 2011
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from a gang threat assessment for Yuma County, AZ, conducted in 2010, based on a statewide survey conducted by the Statistical Analysis Center of Arizona's Criminal Justice Commission.
Abstract
The findings focus on police data collected for the year 2009. Six of the seven Yuma County law enforcement agencies that responded to the survey reported an active gang presence within their jurisdictions in 2009. Of the agencies that reported at least one active gang, four agencies estimated the number of gang members in their jurisdictions. Estimates indicate there were 4,310 active gang members in the 4 jurisdictions. Five of the six agencies reporting a gang presence in their jurisdictions indicated that gangs were expanding their membership and scope of activities. Just over 60 percent of the responding agencies reported that gang activity had increased in the prior 6 months. Just over 80 percent of the agencies indicated that gang activity had increased during the previous 12 months. The Hispanic Surenos/SUR 13, Mexican Mafia/La Eme, and the Hispanic Nortenos/14 were the gangs reported as having a high level of involvement in Yuma County. Approximately 67 percent of the agencies with a gang presence in their jurisdictions reported that gangs had a high level of involvement in the distribution of marijuana, and 40 percent of the agencies reported a high level of gang involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine. When asked about gang intervention strategies, the law enforcement agencies reporting a gang presence in their jurisdictions described strategies that involved law enforcement, the identification of gang members, and joint efforts with other agencies as the most effective intervention strategies. The questionnaire, entitled the "Arizona Gang Threat Assessment," was modeled after the National Gang Threat Assessment questionnaire. 8 tables and 3 figures