Youth Gangs: A 1990s Perspective

Abstract

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article by Cromwell et al. was to identify and discuss several issues affecting the formation of competent public policy and the implementation of effective gang intervention strategies in the 1990s. METHODOLOGY: The authors employed a non-experimental design in which information was collected from both past research in gang formation and regional statistics on gang activity. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The authors began by outlining the scope of the problem of youth gang activity and the difficulty of gathering reliable and valid information regarding the extent, nature and seriousness of the gang problem. Moreover, almost every academic study as well as law enforcement agency report have utilized varying operational definitions of what constitutes a gang or gang-related incident. Tautological definitions of gang and gang member as well as gang activity have further confused the problem. Consequently, gang research and data on gang activity from different jurisdictions should be interpreted and compared with caution. The classical gang studies of the 1950s and 1960s are now outdated insofar as the nature, organization, motivation and activities of gangs have since changed. While the membership of gangs have historically been male with females playing marginal roles, the authors suggested that increased gang violence committed by female members indicates that gangs are no longer a male phenomenon. The membership of contemporary gangs have a wider of age and are also reporting older members. According to the authors, these findings suggest that gang members are no longer maturing out of gangs into legitimate occupations but rather establishing careers in criminal gang activity. The motivation towards joining a gang has also evolved. The authors found that where gangs of yesteryear fulfilled an expressive function for its membership, the motivation behind joining contemporary gangs is more instrumental. The authors cited early gang studies which argued that the identity, recognition, status, safety and security, power and excitement offered by gangs attracted members who were afflicted by the poverty and alienation of urban immigrant areas. Instrumental gangs, on the other hand, primarily satisfy economic concerns and many times don't display many of the standard features of the expressive gang (eg.,the use of symbols, rituals, oaths and names as well as territorialism). Contemporary gangs' activities range from low level street dealing to sophisticated, highly organized, and heavily armed networks for the distribution of cocaine (p. 29). To conclude, the authors found evidence which suggested that contemporary youth gangs might provide its younger members with the contacts and preparation for later criminal career efforts. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors emphasized the need for reliable and valid data about gangs and gang activity in order to develop informed and effective public policy. Therefore law enforcement agencies, the media and citizens groups must come to an agreement on a standardized definition of gang and gang-related activity. Furthermore, traditional wisdom about the causes, structure and organization of gangs needs to be reevaluated such that it reflects the juvenile gang of the 1990s. EVALUATION: The authors present a thoughtful discussion of the changing nature of gang activity and the difficulties associated with evaluating gang research. They utilize both past and present research to formulate their arguments in an organized and well written paper. It would have been helpful, however, if the authors had addressed the changing ethnic makeup of gangs in order to establish a better understanding of the dynamics of gang involvement. Overall, the authors offer a valuable discussion of contemporary youth gangs with implications for both policy decisions and future research efforts. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Public Policy KW - 1990s KW - Juvenile Crime KW - Juvenile Gang KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Violence Intervention KW - Gang Violence KW - Gang Intervention KW - Intervention Recommendations KW - Research Recommendations KW - Policy Recommendations Language: en