NCJ Number
173295
Date Published
1995
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Personal interviews of a representative sample of youths living in high-risk Denver neighborhoods provided data used to measure the extent to which gang members differ from serious street offenders and less serious or nonoffending youth.
Abstract
The data came from the Denver Youth Survey, a longitudinal study of families. The participants were 7-15 years old when first interviewed. Parents were also interviewed. The data analysis included the 4 oldest youth cohorts, who were ages 12-18 in year 4. Gang members generally reported more involvement in juvenile delinquency than did other youth, but their patterns of drug sales and use matched those of nongang serious offender. The three categories of youths were similar on several social-psychological dimensions, including involvement in conventional activities, perceptions of both social isolation and limited opportunities, and self-esteem. Findings called into question some current policies and programs designed to prevent gangs and juvenile delinquency and suggested the need for some redirection of gang intervention efforts. Tables, notes, appended scales, and 47 references