This study examined the effect immigration had on a sample of adolescents and their immigrant parents, as well as on the adolescents' adaptation to the organization of conflict in the neighborhood where their parents lived.
Early Precursors of Gang Membership: A Study of Seattle Youth
5-page Bulletin. Posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The Seattle Social Development Study is a longitudinal study of youth living in high-crime neighborhoods. Its findings offer an opportunity to enhance understanding of the predictors of gang participation.
Evaluating G.R.E.A.T : A School-Based Gang Prevention Program (pdf)
Typical programs are directed at active gang members, and most target youths who are at risk for joining gangs. The G.R.E.A.T. program, in contrast, is presented to entire classrooms without attempting to predict which students are most likely to become involved with a gang. G.R.E.A.T. is aimed at middle school students and seeks to (1) reduce their involvement in gangs and delinquent behavior, (2) teach them consequences of gang involvement, and (3) help them develop positive relations with law enforcement. These three objectives are addressed through a nine hour curriculum taught in schools by uniformed law enforcement officers. Students are taught to set positive goals, resist negative pressures, resolve conflicts, and understand how gangs impact the quality of their lives. This report summarizes results of a five year study of the G.R.E.A.T. program. The study revealed that G.R.E.A.T. has modest positive effects on adolescents' attitudes and delinquency risk factors but no effects on their involvement in gangs and actual delinquent behaviors.
Female Gangs: A Focus on Research
12-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin represents a step toward rectifying the deficiencies of prior research. It summarizes past and present research and tracks the rise in the number of female gangs and the increased public recognition of female gang involvement as a significant social problem. The authors consider the motivations for female gang membership, assess the delinquency and criminal activity of female gang members, examine the influence of ethnicity and gender norms on female gang behavior, and discuss the long-term consequences of gang membership. Recommendations for future research are also offered.
Highlights of the 1999 National Youth Gang Survey
2-page Fact Sheet posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The 1999 National Youth Gang Survey is the fifth annual survey conducted by NYGC. The 1999 survey used the same sample as the surveys done from 1996 through 1998 to facilitate comparative and trend analysis.
Law Enforcement Referral of At-Risk Youth: The SHIELD Program
8-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin describes how the SHIELD program mobilizes these assets to identify youth at risk of involvement in violent behavior, substance abuse, and gang activity and to address their needs through a multidisciplinary team approach involving representatives from the community, schools, and service agencies.
National Youth Gang Survey Trends From 1996 to 2000 (pdf)
2-page Fact Sheet. Posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Fact Sheet highlights findings from the five National Youth Gang Surveys conducted annually since 1996 by the National Youth Gang Center (NYGC), which is funded by OJJDP. The survey polls a nationally representative sample of more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies.
Preventing Adolescent Gang Involvement
12-page Bulletin is posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin examines the youth gang problem in the larger context of juvenile violence. While there are no simple solutions to ending the youth gang problem, the Bulletin provides the reader with information to better understand its complexity, while dispelling common gang stereotypes. The Bulletin offers a solid foundation on which to build a comprehensive strategy to prevent youth gang involvement.
The Growth of Youth Gang Problems in the United States: 1970-1998
Report posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Comprehensive study of the growth of youth gang problems in the United States from 1970 to 1998. The Report's trend and rate analyses are used to project prospects for future gang locality trends. Forecasting a leveling off or even reduction in the prevalence of youth gang problems, the author advises that comprehensive quality gang surveys should continue to be conducted to monitor progress.
August 2000, 8-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin analyzes findings from the School Crime Supplements (SCS) to the National Crime Victim Survey, describes characteristics of gangs in schools, and discusses contributory factors to gang prevalence in schools. The impact of gang presence in schools on victimization is also reviewed.
Provides texts of numerous articles related to gangs, youth violence, school violence and drug trafficking.