NCJ Number
161401
Journal
Organized Crime Digest Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 3 1996) Pages: 1-3
Editor(s)
B B Bosarge
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A study by the University of Southern California revealed that street gangs are proliferating in towns and cities across the United States, but most of the gangs have developed locally rather than being the result of gang migration.
Abstract
Although many cities reported with gang migration, their experience tended to be limited. Among the 597 cities that could provide an estimate of arrivals of street or drug gang members from other locations, 314 reported the arrival of more than 10 migrants in the prior year and 34 reported the arrival of more than 100 in that period. Moreover, of the 635 cities that could determine the onset of local gang activity, only 31 reported any gang immigration prior to the emergence of local gang problems. Fifty-seven percent of the gang members' moves resulted from social reasons, particularly family relocation (39 percent). Illegal activities explained 32 percent of the moves. During detailed interviews, the overwhelming majority of relocated gang members reported getting in less trouble after their move. However, few cities with large gang populations have established programs to help ensure the law-abiding success of migrants' transitions. The research also revealed that Los Angeles was the main exporter of gang members, followed by Chicago, New York City, and Detroit. Map