Criminal Violence: Patterns, Causes, and

Prevention

Riedel and Welsh, Ch. 11 “Gangs and Gang

Violence”

A Problem of Definition

No consensus on the meaning of the term Definition provides indication of the number

of gangs Gang member vs. gang motive

Definition provides information for resource allocation and public fear of crime Cities may deny there is a gang problem for

political and social reasons. Awareness of gang problems hurts tourism.

Focusing the Definition

“A street gang is any durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of its group identity” (Klein & Maxson, 2006, p. 4) Definition has been agreed upon by more

than 100 American and European researchers. Minimal definition is sufficient for

distinguishing street gangs from other youth groups.

Are You a Gang Member?

Self-nomination One method of determining who is a gang member is to ask adolescents.

Research done indicates that as definitions involved more gang characteristics, respondents became more antisocial. Self-nomination has been shown to be a useful technique.

Are You a Gang Member? (cont.)

Law enforcement uses crimes committed as an important criterion.

Also uses self-nomination technique to designate individuals

Rural counties rely on display of tattoos, colors, or other symbols.

Self-nomination and crimes committed are two most important measures.

Growth and Change in Gangs

Area

Perc

ent

Figure 11.1 Percent Change in the Estimated Number of Gangs,

2002-2007

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Larger Cities Suburban Cnts. Smaller Cities Rural Cnts. Total

15.3 17

40.9

64.4

25.5

Size of the Problem

Number of gangs increased to 27,300 by 2007.

Decreased to 20,100 by 1995, then increased

Figure 11.1 shows greatest change from 2002 to 2007 has been in rural counties. Compared to total number of gangs, rural counties have the smallest number while larger cities have the largest number.

Demographics

Age: Percent of gang members over 18 has consistently increased, to 63.5% in 2006.

Gender: Over 90% of gang members are males.

Race/ Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino gang most frequent, followed by African-American gangs

White gangs are the fewest in number.

Gang Organization and Violence

Five types of gangs : Traditional, Neotraditional, Compressed, Collective, and Specialty

Specialty gang is narrowly focused on specific set of criminal acts such as burglary or drugs.

Gang Violence: Most frequent crimes are drug sales, aggravated assaults, and robberies.

Gang-related homicides are 5% to 7%.

Explanations

Strain Theories: Based on Merton’s theory

Cohen: Lower-class rejection of middle-class values

Cohen’s delinquent acts were “malicious, nonutilitarian and negativistic”

Cloward and Ohlin: Saw a conflict between lower- and middle-class values and limited structural opportunities

Posited illegitimate opportunity structures

Explanations (cont.)

Cultural deviance theories emphasize conflicts in cultural beliefs

Walter M iller’s theory emphasized focal concerns: cultural values that coincidentally conflicted with middle-class beliefs Marvin Wolfgang and Franco Ferracuti postulated a subculture of violence theory:

Lower-class youth use violence as a method of solving interpersonal problems

Explanations (cont.)

Social control theories try to explain why people do not commit crimes and violence.

Travis Hirschi focused on the social bond:

What are the social forces and institutions that “keep people in line”?

James Vigil and Steve Yun applied social control and multiple marginality to Mexican gangs.

Interventions Five Types of Intervention

Suppression includes arrest, incarceration, and other forms of criminal justice. Social Intervention includes social and psychological approaches, street workers, and religious conversions. Organizational Change and Development Community Organization Opportunities Provision refers to job training, increasing opportunities for employment, and assistance with school.

Operation Ceasefire Boston Police Department started

program to reduce gang violence. Focused on small number of serially offending, gang-involved youth Emphasis was on gun trafficking within the state. “Lever pulling” meant that any violent event would set off a coordinated response by police and social services.

Evaluations were positive and programs in other cities were started.