NCJ Number
146199
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study on street gang migration in the U.S. encompassed all 190 cities in the Nation with a population over 100,000. In addition, data were collected from approximately 1,045 police departments in smaller cities and towns.
Abstract
Interim findings showed that gang migration is widespread in the U.S.; 82 percent of large cities reported at least some migration, as did 554 smaller cities. Gang migration occurred largely in the West, South, and Midwest regions of the country. Nearly three-quarters of the reporting cities had their first experience with gang migration within the past 5 years. Estimates of the total number of gang migrants ranged from a dozen to several thousand. Cities characterized by geographic isolation, small size, and low minority populations reported little or no gang migration. Effective law enforcement appeared to be a deterrent to gang migration. The results indicated that the scope of gang problems varied with city size. Patterns of local gang involvement in drug distribution varied by ethnic composition of the gangs. Over 570 cities noted that local street gangs had adopted at least one big city gang name. 1 table and 5 notes