A Police Program for Employment of Youth Gang Members

Abstract

One hundred experimental subjects and 100 controls were matched on age, sex, ethnic group and gang membership; and the groups were equated on the number of prior police detentions. Because both groups showed a subsequent decline in police detentions, the effect cannot be attributed to the jobs program but is more likely increasing age and maturity and decreasing vulnerability to police arrests for minor infractions. It was suggested that the focus should shift from job procure ment to job maintenance.