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Policing Gangs and Youth Violence: Where Do We Stand, Where Do We Go From Here? (From Policing Gangs and Youth Violence, P 287-293, 2003, Scott H. Decker, ed. -- See NCJ-201783)

NCJ Number
201795
Author(s)
Scott H. Decker
Date Published
2003
Length
7 pages
Annotation
After reviewing the common themes that emerge from the case studies of cities' interventions to counter and prevent gang-related youth crime, this chapter offers recommendations for improving community responses to gang problems.
Abstract
The case studies of gang-related interventions portrayed in this book indicate that the programs that have achieved some measure of success have targeted particular criminal activities of gangs and used comprehensive multipronged strategies designed to reduce the targeted activities, notably violence and drug-related crimes. Still, interventions that claim to be effective have not been subjected to the kind of evaluation research that can make them worthy of large-scale implementation. This chapter recommends that youth violence and gang interventions be evaluated for both the effectiveness of their processes and outcomes. Second, failures must be documented in terms of evaluation research design, program implementation, and program impact. Third, all gang research must be driven by a conceptual understanding of the problem. Fourth, funded research must be required to integrate sound methodologies. This would require that projects to be funded submit letters of commitment regarding the evaluation, along with the research proposal. Fifth, future research regarding gang interventions should involve collaborations among researchers who share an interest in substantive or methodological issues; researchers must work together to use common methodologies, address common problems, and use common research instruments. Finally, research projects that address gangs and youth violence should consider using a dynamic problem solving approach, since program interventions seldom remain focused on the initial target. Such program evolutions and modifications must be documented and their consequences measured. 4 references