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Juvenile Gangs: Crime and Drug Trafficking

NCJ Number
113767
Author(s)
K C McKinney
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This bulletin reports on the conclusions and suggestions offered by 12 experts to the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention regarding the nature of and ways to prevent and address juvenile gang activities.
Abstract
Juveniles are becoming more active in gangs largely because of the lucrative drug trade. This is particularly true in Los Angeles, and representatives from various Los Angeles gangs have begun to organize drug networks in other cities. Because the juvenile justice system uses few sanctions against juveniles, adult gangs use them in their drug trade. The juvenile justice system must be reformed to hold youth accountable for their behavior by imposing predictable and consistent sanctions. The drug trade has been attended by an alarming increase in the use of deadly military weapons used in wars with competing gangs, thus turning many urban neighborhoods into war zones. Intensive prevention programs, including increased job opportunities, are necessary to keep at-risk youth from joining gangs, and drug education programs are vital for reducing the demand for drugs and hence the gang-related drug trade. Coordination between governmental levels, criminal justice agencies, and the public and private sectors is necessary to address the problem.