Gangs: an individual and group perspective

Abstract

Introduction -- The problem -- History and present day -- The first era -- The second era -- The third era -- The current era -- Scope of today's problem -- Official data -- Self-report data -- Geographic area -- Rural and suburban areas -- Gender -- Race/ethnicity -- Age -- Chapter summary -- Definitions -- Definitional issues -- Definitions of gangs -- Group process definitions -- Crime-based definitions -- The gang versus peer groups -- Definition of gang member -- Definitions of gang crime -- Chapter summary -- Explanations of gangs -- The environmental effect -- Social disorganization theory -- Thrasher and the Chicago School -- Collective efficacy -- Strain theory -- Anomie theory -- Status frustration theory -- Differential opportunity theory -- Summary of strain theory -- Subcultural theory -- Lower class focal concerns -- Underclass theory -- Wilson's truly disadvantaged -- Segmented labor market theory -- Summary of underclass theory -- Integrated theory -- Multiple marginality -- Klein's integrated model -- Chapter summary -- Explanations of gang membership -- The individual effect -- Risk factors -- Push risk factors -- Community risk -- School risk -- Peer group risk -- Individual risk -- Pull risk factors -- Traditional delinquency theory -- Learning theory -- Social learning theory -- Support for social learning theory -- Control theory -- Social bonding theory -- Support for social bonding theory -- A general theory of crime -- Support for a general theory of crime -- The classical school -- Rational choice theory -- Support for rational choice theory -- Interactional theory -- Gang-specific theories -- The defiant individualistic character -- The hyperadolescent -- The sociopathic personality -- Multiple marginality -- Chapter summary -- Gang organization and group process -- Gang variation -- Behavioral typologies -- Organizational features -- The clique structure -- Role differentiation -- Groupthink -- Social codes -- Expressions of conformity -- Rules of prohibited behavior -- Territory and migration -- Structural typologies -- Cohesion and group development -- The role of conflict -- Chapter summary -- The gang member -- Gang member variation -- Joining the gang -- Recruitment -- Initiation rituals -- Types of gang members -- The everyday gang member -- Gang tattoos -- Graffiti -- Gang member movements -- The impact of gang membership -- Values and self-esteem -- Social institutions -- Criminal justice system contact -- Leaving the gang -- Long-term effects -- Chapter summary -- Criminal behavior -- Gang crime -- The gang member -- The individual process -- The gang -- The group process -- The gang member and the gang -- Nonviolent crime -- Substance use -- Property crime -- Drug sales -- Violent crime -- Guns -- Drive-by shootings -- Homicide -- The connection -- Chapter summary -- Race and ethnicity -- Understanding the problem -- Hispanic/Latino gangs -- The history -- Gangs of the 1930s and 1940s -- Gangs of the 1970s -- Hispanic gang experiences -- Contemporary Hispanic gangs -- Latin kings -- Ms-13 -- Black American gangs -- The history -- Los Angeles black gangs -- Chicago black gangs -- Black gang experiences -- Asian gangs -- The history -- Asian gangs in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s -- Asian gang experiences -- Contemporary Asian gangs -- American Indian gangs -- The history -- American Indian gang experiences -- White gangs -- The history -- The case of neo-nazi skinheads -- Chapter summary -- The female gang member -- Understanding the problem -- The historical foundation -- Stereotyping females -- Our current knowledge -- The extent of female involvement -- The age dynamic -- Gender composition of gangs -- Beyond sexual exploitation -- Gender, race, ethnicity, and class -- Joining the gang -- Risk factors -- Reasons for joining -- Gang initiation -- Female identity -- Criminal involvement -- Level of offending -- The group influence -- Violent crime -- Economic crime -- The effects of gang membership -- Chapter summary -- Prison gangs -- Understanding prison gangs -- Definition -- Extent of prison gangs -- Proliferation of prison gangs -- Prison gang dynamics -- Reasons for prison gangs -- Prison gang members -- Structure and rules -- Traditional prison gangs -- Policies and programs -- Identification of problem -- Suppression strategies -- Validation process -- Segregation and isolation -- Legal challenges -- Alternate strategies -- Knowledge-based programs -- Reintegration-based programs -- Chapter summary -- Prevention and intervention -- Understanding prevention and intervention -- Approaches to prevention -- Assessing the community -- Implementing policy -- The Spergel model -- Community mobilization -- Social intervention -- Current programs -- Opportunities provisions -- Suppression -- Police agencies -- Gang injunctions -- Organizational change -- Legislation -- Comprehensive strategies -- Gang violence reduction project -- The Boston miracle -- Chapter summary -- The future of gangs -- Our understanding -- History -- Definition -- The group perspective -- The individual perspective -- Diversity -- The prison-street connection -- Policy -- The future -- Empowerment -- Community support -- Political involvement -- Chapter summary -- Bibliography -- Index