NCJ Number
168431
Journal
School Intervention Report Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (Summer 1997) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1997
Length
24 pages
Annotation
Gang violence results from many causes and suggests the need for educators and community leaders to recognize these factors and address them in helping gang members change and reducing the number of youth who join gangs.
Abstract
Violence serves to defend or expand the gang's turf, recruit new members, keep members from leaving, exclude undesirable members, seek revenge, enhance perceptions of the gang's power and invincibility, gain respect or dominance over others, enforce rules, and serve as a check on moral restraints. Gang violence and the constant threat of violence also strengthens gang members' attachments to each other. The cultural values of courage, heroism, machismo, and physical prowess also interact to support the use of violence to solve problems. The threat of violence is a also a critical feature of any gang that is successful in illicit entrepreneurial activities such as drug dealing. Personal pressures such as alienation, ideology, and other factors can also combine with group pressures to act violently under certain circumstances. Violence also relieves boredom and augments feelings of power and worth. Educators and community leaders should recognize the power of the bonding process and help youth become involved and bonded with healthy groups. 25 references, list of resources, announcements of conferences, and description of the Safe Schools Coalition