NCJ Number
140480
Date Published
1990
Length
38 pages
Annotation
These two papers examine recent findings regarding the nature, causes, and prevention of gangs and gang violence, especially among juvenile gangs.
Abstract
Life in low-income urban communities has become much more difficult, stressful, impoverished, and insecure in the last 15 years, especially for children and the parents of children. As these pressures have increased, the resources available to help deal with them have declined as a result of policy changes. These kinds of economic and social distress and disruption are affecting an increasing segment of the population and are conducive to the development of violent gangs. The news media do not provide reliable information about gangs. Gangs vary widely in their nature and characteristics. In addition, although conflict between gangs is inherent, drug-related violence and other illegal activity are not necessarily conducted by gangs as a whole and are not inherent in gangs. To address concerns related to gangs, our society must consider the frustrations that give rise to gangs and the issues related to the existence of a large and disaffected underclass in our cities.