American Street Gangs

by Delaney, Tim

• ISBN13: 9780131710795
• ISBN10: 0131710796
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-08-03
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This book provides a comprehensive review of all the critical elements relevant to the growing phenomenon of gang life. It is designed to provide the necessary background material of gangs so that readers gain a clear idea of the cultural and structural components of gang activity.This book provides an examination of the history of gangs, socio-psychological aspects of individual and group behavior, the major theories and socio-economic reasons as to why gangs exist, descriptions of all types of gangs, as well as law enforcement techniques.For those in law enforcement and criminal justice careers as well as the sociology field.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgments	ix
About the Author	xi
What Is a Gang?	1	(34)
Delinquency and Gangs	1	(5)
Definition of a Gang	6	(2)
General Description of Gangs and Gang Members	8	(4)
Statistics: Counting Gangs and Gang Members	12	(1)
Non-Street Gangs	13	(14)
Prison Gangs	27	(7)
Summary	34	(1)
A History of Gangs	35	(31)
The Early 1800s: The Birth of Street Gangs	36	(2)
Mid-1800s: The Escalation of New York City Street Gangs	38	(4)
The Civil War Period--1900	42	(2)
The Early 1900s: The Spread of Street Gangs	44	(6)
The Mid-1900s: An Expansion and Shift in Geographic Gang Dominance	50	(9)
Contemporary Gangs (1970s to the Present): An Epidemic	59	(6)
Summary	65	(1)
Theoretical Explanations of Gangs	66	(35)
Biological and Psychological Theories	67	(8)
Sociological Theories	75	(25)
Summary	100	(1)
Socioeconomic Explanations of Gangs	101	(26)
Traditional Socioeconomic Factors	101	(11)
Kicks and Thrills	112	(14)
Summary	126	(1)
Gang Structure and Process	127	(29)
Gang Structure	127	(14)
Turning: The Socialization of a Gang Member	141	(9)
Code of the Street: Respect	150	(5)
Summary	155	(1)
Street Gangs: Local, Regional, and Super-Sized	156	(47)
Gang Denial	156	(2)
American Rural Youth Gangs	158	(1)
Local and Regional Gangs	159	(19)
Super-Sized Gang Nations	178	(17)
Asian Gangs	195	(7)
Summary	202	(1)
Female Gangs and Gang Members	203	(25)
Female Gang Participation	204	(4)
Female Gangsters	208	(2)
Types of Female Gangs	210	(3)
Criminal Activities	213	(6)
Relationships with Males and School	219	(5)
Gang Families	224	(3)
Summary	227	(1)
Criminal Activities of Street Gangs	228	(22)
Normal Activities of Gang Members	228	(1)
Drugs: Use, Sale, and Distribution	229	(6)
Violence	235	(4)
Homicide	239	(4)
Other Criminal Activities	243	(5)
Summary	248	(2)
Gang Prevention, Suppression, and Treatment	250	(40)
Prevention Strategies	250	(14)
Suppression Strategies	264	(19)
Gang Treatment Programs	283	(5)
Summary	288	(2)
Implications for the Future	290	(17)
A Review	290	(5)
Recent and Pending Legislation to Combat Gangs	295	(8)
Summary	303	(4)
References	307	(18)
Index	325