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STREET GANG WORK

NCJ Number
34608
Journal
Quarterly Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUTUMN 1974) Pages: 39-48
Author(s)
E S GRAYSON
Date Published
1974
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR PROVIDES USEFUL INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE STREET GANG WORKER, INCLUDING GUIDELINES ON TYPES OF STREET GANGS, LEADERSHIP PATTERNS OF STREET GANGS, AND THE OBJECTIVES OF STREET GANG WORK.
Abstract
THREE TYPES OF GANGS ARE DESCRIBED: THE UNORGANIZED AND GENERALLY INOFFENSIVE GANG WITH NO FIXED MEMBERSHIP; THE MORE STRUCTURED GANG WHICH HAS A CAPACITY FOR VIOLENCE; AND THE HIGHLY ORGANIZED GANG WHICH PARTICIPATES IN SERIOUS VIOLENCE. THE USUAL LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES OF THIS LATTER TYPE OF GANG ARE DESCRIBED. THE AUTHOR THEN OUTLINES TECHNIQUES FOR IDENTIFYING GANG MEMBERSHIPS AND APPROACHING THE GANG MEMBERS. IT IS STRESSED THAT STREET GANG WORK CANNOT BE PERFORMED EFFECTIVELY UNLESS THE WORKER BEHAVES IN AN ASSERTIVE FASHION PROVIDING OUTREACH SERVICES. PROBLEM AREAS SUCH AS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TIMES OF NIGHT OR ATTACKS FROM OTHER GANGS ARE NOTED. FINALLY, SOME SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES WHICH MAY BE USED ARE OUTLINED, INCLUDING PROVISION OF SERVICES TO RELATIVES OF THE GANG MEMBER OR ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVITIES FOR GANG MEMBERS.