NCJ Number
196348
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2002 Pages: 343-352
Editor(s)
Kent B. Joscelyn
Date Published
July 2002
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article examines gang homicide during the mid-1990's in St. Louis, addressing the two questions of the differences between gang and non-gang homicides and the social organization of gang homicide.
Abstract
The city of St. Louis was selected for the site of this study due to its high rates of violent crime. The research discussed in this article supports the idea that gangs lack the structure and corporate capability to coordinate activities effectively and control their members violent behavior, as they are characterized by low social capital and have weak ties to social institutions. The activities of two gangs, the Crips and the Bloods, and non-gang activity were studied. The choice of victims by gang perpetrators and the gang status of offenders and victims were examined. The research was based upon two main conceptual questions: the extent to which gang homicides shared characteristics with other youth homicides, and the social organization of gang homicide. Tables include gang versus non-gang homicides; homicide African-American male suspects 25 and under; and gang homicide characteristics by gang affiliation. Figures include gang-related homicides in St. Louis for 1991-1998 and gang-related homicides as percent of all homicides in St. Louis for 1993-1998. It was confirmed that individuals at risk for violence were likely to engage in violence, and when the same individuals were gang members, that risk was increased. Since gang members were found to commit homicides within their own gang affiliations more often that outside, it was confirmed that gangs lacked the characteristics of effective social organizations. It was concluded that gang activity reflected a lack of corporate control, restrictions of geography and age, and the proximal nature of most youthful conflict, important knowledge for understanding the nature of gang organization and gang crime. Notes, references