NCJ Number
148539
Date Published
1982
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study investigated whether a change in school site would affect the school attendance of 13 male Chicano gang members who were between 13 and 18 years of age.
Abstract
The 13 gang members had been admitted to a community- based delinquency and gang violence prevention project. Since an active Alternative Studies Program designed for students with special learning problems or for working students already existed on some school campuses, school officials were receptive to providing school services at selected sites outside the established school campuses and to providing regular credits to students who attended alternative locations. Upon entering the project, subjects were informed that a fully accredited educational service was offered at a site near their home barrio and were encouraged to attend school during available hours to earn credits toward high school graduation. Of the 13 Chicanos, 5 elected to return to school at the site near their home barrio. Four did not take advantage of the alternative site because they were employed in work they found satisfying. Almost 40 percent of the Chicano gang members who dropped out of school prior to entering the gang prevention program returned to school, demonstrating that alternative school sites can have a significant impact on the school attendance behavior of Chicano gang members. 3 references