NCJ Number
183166
Date Published
1996
Length
147 pages
Annotation
This volume examines the reasons that street and prison gangs exist, the nature and extent of the gang problem; the impact of street gangs on society; and what law enforcement, the criminal justice system, sociologists, and the public can and should do about the problem.
Abstract
The authors are law enforcement officers with a combined experience of more than 20 years assigned to specialized gang units. The book’s first section discusses the genesis and history of all major gangs; the factors that lead to the nurturing and growth of street gangs in a community; and the typical organizational structure, hierarchy, and philosophy of identified street and prison gangs. The second section focuses on the role of law enforcement and other segments of the criminal justice system in dealing with gang violence and other illegal activities. The discussion includes guidelines for police specialists and gang unit management, specialized patrol procedures relating to gang contact and control, specific investigative techniques, and elements of effective prosecution of crimes unique to gang activity. Photographs and figures