NCJ Number
209461
Journal
Criminology Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 43-76
Date Published
February 2005
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This study examined micro-level social contexts of violent and nonviolent dispute incidents of gang members.
Abstract
Despite the fact that there has been prolific research concerning the distribution of gangs, their composition and behavior, and various approaches to gang control, little is still little known about the behavior of gang members. The current research focused on the micro-level interpersonal interaction processes and situation characteristics involving gang member disputes. Data were drawn from reports of field observations of 12 Black and 8 White street gangs in Chicago between 1959 and 1962. This was the first round of analysis for 16,566 pages of transcribed reports; limited computer technology precluded earlier analysis of this data. All interview and observation data were analyzed with a coding scheme designed to facilitate analysis of micro-level influences during conflict situations. Results indicated that conflicts associated with three primary pretexts (order violations, identity attack, and retaliation) usually unfolded on the basis of whether status concerns were outweighed by situational constraints, such as close relationship between disputants, audience intervention, and peer back-up. Thus, individual- or micro-level factors played a part in gang members’ dispute-related decisionmaking. The findings thus illustrate the importance of further investigating micro-level factors of gang-related behavior. Tables, references