NCJ Number
171737
Journal
Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: May 1997 Pages: 97-107
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The effect of gang membership on deviance was studied in 13,949 secondary school students from the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado and 171 serious habitual juvenile offenders in the Colorado Springs area.
Abstract
The students completed a questionnaire that contained approximately 100 items on demographics, gang membership, drug use, orientation toward education, involvement in juvenile delinquency, perceptions regarding potential victimization, and carrying of a knife or gun for self- defense. Data on the serious offenders came from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Results revealed that 14 percent of the students were gang members, former gang members, or wannabes. The serious offenders averaged 20 arrests; 47 percent were gang members. Among students, gang members were between 3 and 21 times more likely than others to use drugs, to be delinquent, to injure someone, to become injured, and to carry a weapon. Finally, deviance was more strongly associated with gang membership among the students than it was among the serious offenders. 20 references