NCJ Number
58710
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A MODEL FOR THE BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF GANG DELINQUENTS, NONDELIQUENTS, AND THEIR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT IS PRESENTED; INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION MEASURES ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE U.S. MAY BE EXPERIENCING A NEW WAVE OF GANG VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE MAJOR CITIES. POLICE ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE 200 STREET GANGS IN LOS ANGELES, CALIF., ALONE, IN WHICH TERRITORIALITY, SHOOTINGS, AND EXTORTION HAVE BECOME A WAY OF LIFE. THE BEHAVIORAL MODEL MAY BE UTILIZED TO UNDERSTAND SUCH GANG BEHAVIOR; THIS INFORMATION CAN THEN BE DIRECTLY APPLIED IN PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND COMMUNITY CHANGE PROGRAMS. SEVEN MAJOR POINTS ARE COVERED IN THE BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS MODEL: (1) INITIAL ANALYSIS INVOLVES CLASSIFICATION OF BEHAVIORS AS EXCESSES, DEFICITS, AND ASSETS; (2) THE PROBLEM SITUATION MUST BE CLARIFIED, (I.E., WHO OBJECTS TO THE BEHAVIOR, WHAT STIMULATES THE BEHAVIOR); (3) MAJOR MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS SHOULD BE DETERMINED; (4) BIOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS OF THOSE INVOLVED REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION; (5) SELF-CONTROL FACTORS SHOULD BE EVALUATED; (6) SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THE INFLUENCES OF PEOPLE ON THE GANG MEMBERS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED; AND (7) THE SOCIAL-CULTURAL-PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE ANALYZED. APPLICATION OF THIS BEHAVIORAL MODEL TO TWO STREET GANGS IN A MAJOR CITY SHOWED ENCOURAGING RESULTS. ALTHOUGH PRELIMINARY IN NATURE, RESULTS STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT THE APPROACH IS USEFUL FOR UNDERSTANDING A BROAD COMMUNITY PROBLEM FOR INTERVENTION, AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR PREVENTION. THE FOUR INTERVENTION METHODS EMPHASIZED INCLUDE CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI, REDUCING THE MATERIAL AND SOCIAL REINFORCEMENTS FOR VIOLENCE, DEVELOPING MORE EFFECTIVE PUNISHMENTS, AND ENCOURAGING NONDELINQUENT, NONVIOLENT BEHAVIOR BY PROVIDING SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES. REFERENCES AND A DIAGRAM ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)