In spring 1996 a strict random sample of 1,000 police chiefs was sent a mail questionnaire. A total of 283 responded from 48 States. The findings estimate that the total gang population in the United States is approximately 1.5 million, far above FBI and other Federal research estimates of the scope and extent of the gang problem in America. The gang problem has expanded considerably since 1992. Half of the police departments (58.8 percent) first recognized the gang problem in their cities in the time frame of 1992 to the present. Computer technology for tracking gang members and gang training for police officers lag behind the increasing gang problem. Approximately one-fourth of American cities have now passed gang-related local ordinances, and approximately half report gang dress-code restrictions in their local public schools. Gang members account for an average of 10.6 percent of all crime and 18.5 percent of all juvenile crime in American cities. Asked to give elected Federal leaders a "report card" grade for combatting gangs since 1992, these local law enforcement officials gave a grade of D-minus regarding effectiveness in addressing the American gang problem. A wide range of other gang problems, issues, and policies are discussed in this report. 1 table and 3 references