NCJ Number
168265
Date Published
1995
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This document reports the results of a survey of National Guardsmen regarding the role of the military in controlling gangs.
Abstract
This study used an anonymous survey questionnaire to collect data from members of a National Guard unit on Chicago's south side. Because of the sensitive nature of the questions about gangs and crime, no identifying variables were included in the survey; length of service, from one to 21 years, was the only background variable. Major findings of the study include: (1) 76.4 percent of the respondents believed that more job opportunities in the community might help prevent youth from joining gangs; (2) 32.2 percent believed that the National Guard should be used to stop gang warfare; (3) 34.4 percent agreed with the idea that the armed forces should try to recruit gang members just in case the military were to be used in response to a situation where gang members could be involved; (4) 95.6 percent believed that the Federal and State governments had not done enough to try to prevent the gang problem; (5) 22.2 percent rejected the idea that gang leaders would make good soldiers; (6) 65.2 percent felt they could with relative certainty identify gang members by their colors, behavior or language; and (7) 10.2 percent had been a victim of a gang crime in the past year. Notes, tables, appendixes