NCJ Number
176603
Date Published
1997
Length
322 pages
Annotation
Based on a survey of criminal justice professionals and educational organizations in North Carolina, this study examines the respondents' perceptions of the scope and nature of the collective (youth gangs and youth groups) youth crime problem in the State, the respondents' organizations' response to the problem, the effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies, and the perceived causes of the problem.
Abstract
Following a description of survey methods and procedures, definitions of law-violating youth groups are considered. Other chapters address the prevalence and location of law-violating youth groups, youth gang and group characteristics, perceived causes of collective youth crime, and prevention and intervention strategies. There was a strong perception among respondents that the youth gang and group problem had become more serious and widespread in recent years, largely due to the prevalence of drug-related activities and the presence of nonindigenous youth collectives. Suppression techniques dominated the organizational response to the problem, but social intervention, opportunities provision, and neighborhood mobilization strategies were also used by some organizations. There was a strong perception among respondents that their organizations' prevention and intervention strategies were effective in addressing youth gang and group problems; however, the effectiveness ratings were strongly associated with the implementation of organizational features (e.g., policies and procedures), rather than the characteristics of the problem. The concluding chapter summarizes the most important survey findings and presents some ideas and recommendations for future research on youth gangs and groups in North Carolina. 69 tables, 5 figures, appended questionnaire, 270 references, and a subject index