NCJ Number
11144
Date Published
1970
Length
316 pages
Annotation
REVISED EDITION OF 1962 STUDY OF VIOLENCE COMMITTED BY YOUTH IN URBAN AREAS SHOWS PARALLELS BETWEEN POST WORLD WAR 2 URBAN GANGS AND MORE RECENT YOUTH REBELLION.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR STATES THAT MOST VIOLENT GANGS ARE FORMED BY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FEEL ALIENATED FROM THE LARGER SOCIETY. HE CITES HIPPIES, BLACK POWER ADVOCATES, AND CAMPUS REBELS AS EXAMPLES. THE GROUP STRUCTURE OF MOST GANGS IS DESCRIBED AS 'NEAR-GROUPS,' WHICH TEND TO HAVE LIMITED COHESION AND VAGUE LEADERSHIP. THE AUTHOR TRACES THE HISTORY OF TWO INFAMOUS NEW YORK CITY GANGS AND PRESENTS THEIR OWN DESCRIPTIONS OF EVENTS SURROUNDING THE MURDER OF A YOUNG POLIO VICTIM, PATTERNS OF GANG ORGANIZATION, LEADERSHIP, ALLIANCES, WARFARE AND VIOLENCE. THERE IS A DISCUSSION OF PROGRAMS FOR DEALING WITH GANGS AND A NEW PLAN FOR GANG CONTROL. FINALLY, THE AUTHOR CLASSIFIES FOUR PATTERNS OF VIOLENCE. THE FIRST IS LEGAL VIOLENCE, SUCH AS THAT COMMITTED BY A SOLDIER. PARENTAL ASSAULT ON A CHILD IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOCIALLY SANCTIONED VIOLENCE. ROBBERY FOR FINANCIAL GAIN WOULD FIT INTO THE THIRD CATEGORY OF RATIONAL CRIMINAL VIOLENCE. VIOLENT GANG HOMICIDES FIT INTO THE FOURTH CATEGORY OF ILLEGAL, NONSANCTIONED, IRRATIONAL VIOLENCE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)