NCJ Number
231739
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2010 Pages: 595-603
Date Published
July 2010
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined prosecutors' perceptions of gangs in Gainesville, FL.
Abstract
Gangs were a target of widespread political and social attention during the 1990s, and despite a short-lived lull in policy focus, gangs are recently receiving increased attention from policymakers. In spite of political concern about gangs, very little research had examined perceptions of gangs. By conducting face-to-face interviews with 30 of 35 county prosecutors, this study was among the first to examine prosecutors' perspectives of gangs in Gainesville, FL, an area that could be considered an "emerging" gang city. Themes from the interviews were extracted and included prosecutorial perceptions of the: (1) definition and prevalence of gangs in Gainesville, FL; (2) personal and social characteristics of gang members; (3) reasons people join gangs; and (4) best approaches to stop or eliminate gangs. The ways in which prosecutors' perspectives mirror prior research on gangs is highlighted. (Published Abstract)