NCJ Number
152674
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1994) Pages: 256-276
Date Published
1994
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Data collected through a survey of 193 high school students' perceptions about gangs were analyzed to determine whether students in school are a viable gang data source.
Abstract
The sample of students was evaluated in terms of gender and in terms of its association with or knowledge of gangs. The data collected were intended for use as baseline gang data from a specific neighborhood in an urban area. The 193 subjects, representative of their high school but not of the school district as a whole, included 141 blacks, 36 Latinos, 7 whites, 3 Asians, and 6 Native Americans. While the sample contained only a marginal number of gang members (20 percent), over 70 percent of the sample reported knowing a gang member personally. More than half the respondents were acquainted with members in more than one gang. Inner-city high school students may also be able to provide information on female gangs; more than half of this sample reported personally knowing female gang members. A majority of respondents, and more females than males, engaged in social activities with gang members. Data from a sample of students, similar to the one used here, should be combined with data collected from other sources. 8 tables, 34 references, and 1 appendix