NCJ Number
174364
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: Summer 1998 Pages: 23-33
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on the methodology and findings of a study of female gang members, based on interviews with incarcerated adult women.
Abstract
Subjects were women inmates in the Day Reporting Center of the Cook County Department of Corrections (Illinois). The sampling frame for the survey was the list of all current women inmates. The final sample consisted of 315 inmates, all of whom completed the full interview. The in-person survey measured the following variables, which prior research suggests are important correlates of female gang membership: demographic characteristics, history of childhood and sexual abuse, drug use, self-reported crime, family activities, family relations, family economic status, family drug and alcohol abuse, family members' and friends' gang involvement, relationships with friends, and gang membership. Nearly one-third (n=97) of the respondents reported they belonged to a gang. Among these, 41 percent stated they were currently active gang members. Several of the current findings are consistent with those reported in previous investigations; for example, gang members in this study were exposed to gangs at early ages; had brothers, sisters, or friends in gangs; joined gangs in mid-adolescence; and became gang members through their friendships. They were younger than nongang members, began their official criminal careers at younger ages, and were more likely to report carrying guns. Although not supported by any other current evidence, this study found that gang members were more likely than nongang members to report that their mothers had drinking problems. Although previous studies generally found that street gangs were dominated by men in leadership and membership, this study found that nearly half of the gang members reported that their gangs were split evenly between men and women, or that women dominated. 4 tables and 36 references