NCJ Number
175529
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: Fall 1998 Pages: 1-34
Date Published
1998
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This research obtained information directly from more than 1,000 gang members for the purpose of determining the costs and benefits associated with gang life in America today.
Abstract
Findings show that the gang apparently functions similar to a union guild for the underground economy; members pay dues; they attend meetings; they have rules by which to live; treasuries are maintained by the gang; the gang may make collective expenditures from its treasury to provide small welfare support payments to such members in jail, to retain private attorneys, etc. Gangs operate a variety of cash business enterprises across the United States, with incomes from both legal and illegal sources. There are differences among gangs in their level of organizational sophistication, but the higher level gangs that are more organizationally sophisticated do appear to have a number of formalized economic functions and capabilities as well. Most of the gangs analyzed in this research were more sophisticated; they had formalized rules, often their own argot or gang language, and different locations. These gangs have members who are both juveniles and adults, but the top leaders are typically adults with long tenure in the gang. The research also focused on a variety of issues related to the underground economy, including street prices for various illegal items. Some of the mean or average values were $268.90 for a new 9mm Glock semiautomatic pistol; $42.25 for a new box of 9mm gun cartridges; $882.06 for one ounce of pure cocaine; $155.53 for one stolen 12-gauge shotgun; $111.33 for one stolen 38 caliber revolver; and $191.78 for one ounce of top-grade marijuana. Gang members are analyzed in this report, as well as gang alliance systems, and some specific gang identities are also used as the unit of analysis, given the large sample size for this research. About one-third of all gang members would "snitch" on other gang members, given the right incentives by police or prosecutors.