No Access

Vulnerability to Street Gang Membership: Implications for Practice

Cheryl L. Maxson

University of Southern California

Search for more articles by this author

Monica L. Whitlock

University of Southern California

Search for more articles by this author

, and

Malcolm W. Klein

University of Southern California

Search for more articles by this author

University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Abstract

Structured interviews with 165 adolescent black males investigated the differences between gang and nongang youth. Bivariate analyses identified 46 variables that distinguished the two groups within five domains of interest‐individual, family, peer, school, and neighborhood. Logistic regression analyses reduced the number of significant differences to 14. We suggest several directions for programs to prevent youth from joining street gangs and emphasize the importance of gang prevention or very early intervention.

Social Service Review

Volume 72, Number 1March 1998

Article DOI

https://doi.org/10.1086/515746

Permissions
Request permissions

Views: 386
Total views on this site

Citations: 59
Citations are reported from Crossref

PDF download

Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:
Timothy R. Lauger, Sou Lee Gang Violence: Examining Ecological, Cultural, Social Psychological, and Psychological Factors Across the Life Course, (Oct 2021): 2067–2086.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89999-2_104
Kyle J. Thomas, Terrance J. Taylor Reflections on the utility of school-based surveys for gang research, Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research 13, no.2/32/3 (May 2021): 96–109.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-12-2020-0567
Michelle Meloy, Kristin Curtis, Shelby Tucker, Barbara Previ, Michelle Lyttle Storrod, Gaylene Gordon, Mitch Larson, Wayne Webb, Mariel Delacruz Surviving All the Way to College: Pathways Out of One of America’s Most Crime Ridden Cities, Journal of Interpersonal Violence 36, no.9-109-10 (Jul 2018): 4277–4309.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518789899
Carrie K. W. Li, Matthew Almanza, Daniel Abad, Chris Melde Do Different Factors Explain Low- versus High-Rate Adolescent Weapon Carrying?, Victims & Offenders 16, no.22 (Aug 2020): 203–222.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2020.1799467
Jaimee Mallion, Jane Wood Street Gang Intervention: Review and Good Lives Extension, Social Sciences 9, no.99 (Sep 2020): 160.
https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9090160
Timothy R. Lauger, Sou Lee Gang Violence: Examining Ecological, Cultural, Social Psychological, and Psychological Factors Across the Life Course, (Dec 2019): 1–20.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_104-1
Kevin T. Wolff, Michael T. Baglivio, Hannah J. Klein, Alex R. Piquero, Matt DeLisi, James C. (Buddy) Howell Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Gang Involvement Among Juvenile Offenders: Assessing the Mediation Effects of Substance Use and Temperament Deficits, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 18, no.11 (Jun 2019): 24–53.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204019854799
Matthew Valasik, Shannon E. Reid The Schrödinger’s Cat of Gang Groups: Can Street Gangs Inform Our Comprehension of Skinheads and Alt-Right Groups?, Deviant Behavior 40, no.1010 (May 2018): 1245–1259.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2018.1479916
Walter W. Shelley, Dana Peterson “Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Bullying Will Get Me Bangin’”: Bullying Involvement and Adolescent Gang Joining, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 17, no.44 (Nov 2018): 385–412.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204018809841
David C. Pyrooz, Scott H. Decker Competing for Control, 4 (Aug 2019).
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108653473
Lidia E. Nuño, Charles M. Katz Understanding Gang Joining from a Cross Classified Multi-Level Perspective, Deviant Behavior 40, no.33 (Jan 2018): 301–325.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2017.1421706
L. Sergio Garduno, Julie Mestre Brancale Examining the risk and protective factors of gang involvement among Hispanic youth in Maryland, Journal of Community Psychology 45, no.66 (Apr 2017): 765–782.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.21891
Melissa K. Levy, Brenda Abanavas, Gail Breslow, Gregg Croteau, Erin Harris, Sarah Hernholm, Edith C. Lawrence, Beth Panilaitis Specialized After-School Programs: Five Case Studies, (Jul 2017): 37–69.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59141-4_3
Jessica Sommer, Martina Hinsberger, Thomas Elbert, Leon Holtzhausen, Debra Kaminer, Soraya Seedat, Solomon Madikane, Roland Weierstall The interplay between trauma, substance abuse and appetitive aggression and its relation to criminal activity among high-risk males in South Africa, Addictive Behaviors 64 (Jan 2017): 29–34.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.08.008
Herrick Fisher, Paul Montgomery, Frances Gardner, Opportunities provision for preventing youth gang involvement for children and young people (7-16), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, no.1010 (Apr 2008).
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007002.pub2
Adam M. Watkins, Chris Melde Bad Medicine, Criminal Justice and Behavior 43, no.88 (Apr 2016): 1107–1126.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854816631797
Jane L. Wood, Joanna Kubik, Meagan Docherty, Paul Boxer, Bonita Veysey, Michael Ostermann Examining the moderating role of gang involvement on the context and impact of victimization, Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice 2, no.22 (Jun 2016): 107–121.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-06-2015-0022
Beidi Dong, Chris L. Gibson, Marvin D. Krohn Gang Membership in a Developmental and Life‐Course Perspective, (Sep 2015): 78–97.
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118726822.ch5
Mark B. Borg Gang Behavior, (Sep 2014): 473–494.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7497-6_25
Sarah Kelly, Florence Dubois Les gangs et la violence dans leur quartier tels que perçus par les jeunes, Criminologie 48, no.22 (Oct 2015): 125–138.
https://doi.org/10.7202/1033840ar
Marwan Mohammed1 Les jeunes en bande et leurs parents. Les ressorts symboliques du détachement, Criminologie 48, no.22 (Oct 2015): 187–207.
https://doi.org/10.7202/1033843ar
Liran Goldman, Howard Giles, Michael A. Hogg Going to extremes: Social identity and communication processes associated with gang membership, Group Processes & Intergroup Relations 17, no.66 (Mar 2014): 813–832.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430214524289
David C. Pyrooz “From Your First Cigarette to Your Last Dyin’ Day”: The Patterning of Gang Membership in the Life-Course, Journal of Quantitative Criminology 30, no.22 (Oct 2013): 349–372.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10940-013-9206-1
Joey Nuñez Estrada, Tamika D. Gilreath, Ron Avi Astor, Rami Benbenishty Gang Membership, School Violence, and the Mediating Effects of Risk and Protective Behaviors in California High Schools, Journal of School Violence 13, no.22 (Mar 2014): 228–251.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2013.846860
Karen M. Hennigan, Cheryl L. Maxson, David C. Sloane, Kathy A. Kolnick, Flor Vindel Identifying high-risk youth for secondary gang prevention, Journal of Crime and Justice 37, no.11 (Aug 2013): 104–128.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0735648X.2013.831208
René-André Brisebois Chapitre 13. La famille, (Jan 2014): 241–254.
https://doi.org/10.4000/books.pum.5123
J. N. Estrada, T. D. Gilreath, R. A. Astor, R. Benbenishty Gang membership of California middle school students: behaviors and attitudes as mediators of school violence, Health Education Research 28, no.44 (Mar 2013): 626–639.
https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyt037
Finn‐Aage Esbensen, D. Wayne Osgood, Dana Peterson, Terrance J. Taylor, Dena C. Carson Short‐ and Long‐Term Outcome Results from a Multisite Evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. Program, Criminology & Public Policy 12, no.33 (Dec 2013): 375–411.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12048
Kate O’Brien, Michael Daffern, Chi Meng Chu, Stuart D.M. Thomas Youth gang affiliation, violence, and criminal activities: A review of motivational, risk, and protective factors, Aggression and Violent Behavior 18, no.44 (Jul 2013): 417–425.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2013.05.001
Antoinette Y. Farmer, Timothy Hairston Predictors of Gang Membership: Variations Across Grade Levels, Journal of Social Service Research 39, no.44 (Jul 2013): 530–544.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2013.799112
Pamela Lachman, Caterina G. Roman, Meagan Cahill Assessing Youth Motivations for Joining a Peer Group as Risk Factors for Delinquent and Gang Behavior, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 11, no.33 (Oct 2012): 212–229.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204012461510
Jeremiah Jaggers , Wesley T. Church II , Sara Tomek , Kathleen A. Bolland , Lisa M. Hooper , and John Bolland Predictors of Gang Involvement: A Longitudinal Analysis of Data From the Mobile Youth Survey Jaggers, Church, Tomek, Bolland, Hooper, & Bolland, Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research 4, no.33 (Jul 2015): 277–291.
https://doi.org/10.5243/jsswr.2013.18
Adrienne Freng, Taylor Davis, Kristyn McCord, Aaron Roussell The New American Gang? Gangs in Indian Country, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 28, no.44 (Sep 2012): 446–464.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986212458193
Dawn Delfin McDaniel Risk and protective factors associated with gang affiliation among high-risk youth: a public health approach, Injury Prevention 18, no.44 (Jan 2012): 253–258.
https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2011-040083
Finn-Aage Esbensen, Dana Peterson, Terrance J. Taylor, D. Wayne Osgood Results from a Multi-Site Evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. Program, Justice Quarterly 29, no.11 (Jun 2011): 125–151.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2011.585995
Beth Bjerregaard, Joseph A. Cochran The Role of School-Related Bonding Factors and Gender: Correlates of Gang Membership Among Adolescents, Women & Criminal Justice 22, no.11 (Jan 2012): 30–53.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2012.636289
Chris Melde, Stephen Gavazzi, Edmund McGarrell, Timothy Bynum On the Efficacy of Targeted Gang Interventions, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 9, no.44 (Mar 2011): 279–294.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204011399934
Finn-Aage Esbensen, Dana Peterson, Terrance J. Taylor, Adrienne Freng, D. Wayne Osgood, Dena C. Carson, Kristy N. Matsuda Evaluation and Evolution of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program, Journal of School Violence 10, no.11 (Jan 2011): 53–70.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2010.519374
Jane Wood, Emma Alleyne Street gang theory and research: Where are we now and where do we go from here?, Aggression and Violent Behavior 15, no.22 (Mar 2010): 100–111.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2009.08.005
Catherine L. Ward, Karlijn Bakhuis Intervening in Children’s Involvement in Gangs: Views of Cape Town’s Young People, Children & Society 24, no.11 (Dec 2009): 50–62.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2009.00195.x
Herrick Fisher, Frances Gardner, Paul Montgomery, Cognitive-behavioural interventions for preventing youth gang involvement for children and young people (7-16), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 36 (Apr 2008).
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007008.pub2
Matthew T. Theriot, Barbara “Sunshine” Parke Native American Youth Gangs, Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice 5, no.44 (Jan 2008): 83–97.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J222v05n04_04
Herrick Fisher, Paul Montgomery, Frances Gardner Cognitive‐Behavioural Interventions for Preventing Youth Gang Involvement for Children and Young People (7‐16), Campbell Systematic Reviews 4, no.11 (Aug 2008): 1–35.
https://doi.org/10.4073/csr.2008.7
Herrick Fisher, Paul Montgomery, Frances Gardner Opportunities Provision for Preventing Youth Gang Involvement for Children and Young People (7‐16), Campbell Systematic Reviews 4, no.11 (Aug 2008): 1–32.
https://doi.org/10.4073/csr.2008.8
Heather Berkman Social Exclusion and Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, SSRN Electronic Journal 84 (Jan 2007).
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1820903
James C. Howell, Arlen Egley Moving Risk Factors into Developmental Theories of Gang Membership, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 3, no.44 (Oct 2005): 334–354.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204005278679
Lorine A. Hughes Studying Youth Gangs, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 21, no.22 (May 2005): 98–119.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986204272875
Malcolm W. Klein The Value of Comparisons in Street Gang Research, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 21, no.22 (May 2005): 135–152.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986204272911
Charles M. Katz, Vincent J. Webb, Scott H. Decker Using the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program to further understand the relationship between drug use and gang membership, Justice Quarterly 22, no.11 (Feb 2007): 58–88.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0741882042000333645
Finn-Aage Esbensen, Frank M. Weerman Youth Gangs and Troublesome Youth Groups in the United States and the Netherlands, European Journal of Criminology 2, no.11 (Jan 2005): 5–37.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370805048626
F. Carson Mencken, James Nolan, Samuel Berhanu Juveniles, Illicit Drug Activity, and Homicides against Law Enforcement Officers, Homicide Studies 8, no.44 (Nov 2004): 327–349.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1088767903262597
David Eitle, Steven Gunkel, Karen Van Gundy Cumulative exposure to stressful life events and male gang membership, Journal of Criminal Justice 32, no.22 (Mar 2004): 95–111.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2003.12.001
Sharon Hoover Stephan, Stephen Mathur, Celeste C. Owens School Strategies to Prevent and Address Youth Gang Involvement, (Jan 2004): 217–232.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48544-2_14
Kevin A. Yoder, Les B. Whitbeck, Dan R. Hoyt Gang Involvement and Membership among Homeless and Runaway Youth, Youth & Society 34, no.44 (Jun 2003): 441–467.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X03034004003
Fatma F. Migahed Distribution of Fungi in the Sandy Soil of Egyptian Beaches, Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 6, no.1010 (May 2003): 860–866.
https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2003.860.866
Stephen J. Danyko, Alisondra Arlia, Jose Martinez Historical Risk Factors Associated with Gang Affiliation in a Residential Treatment Facility: A Case/Control Study, Residential Treatment For Children & Youth 20, no.11 (Sep 2002): 67–77.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J007v20n01_05
Finn-Aage Esbensen, L. Thomas Winfree, Ni He, Terrance J. Taylor Youth Gangs and Definitional Issues: When is a Gang a Gang, and Why Does it Matter?, Crime & Delinquency 47, no.11 (Sep 2016): 105–130.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128701047001005
Jewelle Taylor Gibbs Gangs as Alternative Transitional Structures, Journal of Multicultural Social Work 8, no.1-21-2 (Oct 2008): 71–99.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J285v08n01_04
KARL G. HILL, JAMES C. HOWELL, J. DAVID HAWKINS, SARA R. BATTIN-PEARSON Childhood Risk Factors for Adolescent Gang Membership: Results from the Seattle Social Development Project, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 36, no.33 (Aug 1999): 300–322.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022427899036003003