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Youth Gang Drug Trafficking and Homicide: Policy and Program Implications

NCJ Number
169320
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: 9-20
Author(s)
J C Howell
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This review of research on youth gang drug trafficking and homicide concludes that connection between drug law offenses and homicide is not basically a gang phenomenon.
Abstract
Some gang migration is related to drug market expansion and other criminal activities. Some youth gangs are involved in drug trafficking in particular communities in certain cities. However, youth gang studies have provided little information about the adult criminal organizations that manage and control drug trafficking operations. Studies also document youth gang drug wars. The growing use of increasingly lethal weapons have also resulted in increases in gang homicides. Nevertheless, studies of youth gang homicides reveal that homicides committed by individual gang members may be as prevalent as those committed in conjunction with the gang. The findings indicate that more attention should be focused on solving youth gang problems. The priority should be youth gang homicides, which appear to be increasing. The most cost-effective long-term strategy to address the youth gang problem may be to prevent children and adolescents from joining gangs. The program model that proves to be most effective in reducing gang homicides is likely to contain multiple and collaborating components that include prevention, social intervention, treatment, suppression, and community mobilization. Photograph, notes, and 68 references