The youth gang problem a community approach - Spergel, Irving A. (Oxford University Press, 1995)
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002
Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-336) and index
Introduction : comparative and historical perspectives -- Research limitations : data sources and definitions -- Scope and seriousness of the gang problem -- Gangs, drugs, and violence -- Gang member demographics and gang subcultures -- The structure of the gang -- The gang member experience -- The ecological context -- Youth gangs and organized crime -- Theoretical perspectives -- Planning for youth gang control and violence reduction -- Criminal justice system : the police -- Prosecution, defense, and the judiciary -- Probation, corrections, and parole--after care -- Social intervention -- Social opportunities : education and jobs -- Local community mobilization and evolving national policy
A systematic and comparative analysis of youth gangs and the youth gang problem in the United States, this book deals with hands-on issues of policy and programs, describing the strategies and techniques for dealing with gangs employed by criminal justice organizations, social agencies, schools, employment programs, and grass-roots organizations. Spergel combines empirical research, first-hand experience, and a solid theoretical base to expose the causes of the gang problem. Importantly, he recommends strategies that deal with gangs at a community level, using both local and national interests and resources to provide gang members with structured social and economic opportunities. He suggests a variety of specific techniques for dealing with the problem and shows how and why existing strategies have gone wrong. A practical and testable approach to a serious social problem, The Youth Gang Problem is a must-read for government officials, researchers, university instructors, and for anyone concerned with the gang problem and how to alleviate it