Researchers have yet to agree on a definition of “youth gang,” leading to problems of over- or under-estimation of the problem. What is known is that the problem of youth gangs has grown significantly since the 1970s. This increase in youth gangs has led to an increase in the prevalence of violent crimes committed by gang members compared to non-gang members. The author calls for more rigorous research on social interventions and gang suppression. Gang member characteristics are relatively stable and indicate that the typical gang member is a young male between the ages of 12 and 24 years. The ethnicity of gang members varies, but research indicates that gangs of different ethnicities commit different types of delinquent acts. The risk factors that lead juveniles into gang involvement are reviewed and can include neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, poverty, low parental supervision, and low parental attachment. Theoretical explanations for gang membership generally follow two main models: the selection model and the social facilitation model. The selection model argues that gang members recruit new gang members from adolescents who are already involved in crime while the social facilitation model states that gang membership leads to criminal involvement and not vice versa. Treatment and prevention approaches for the problem of youth gangs have been implemented across the country and focus on the numerous individual and social factors that lead juveniles into gang membership. One of the most prevalent gang prevention programs is the Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression. This program is based on social disorganization theory and focuses on providing youth with a sense of community and belonging outside of gang life. Gang suppression techniques are also common and involve targeting high gang activity areas for increased police patrols, aggressive curfew, and truancy enforcement. References