NCJ Number
37979
Date Published
1976
Length
38 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER EXPLORES PATTERNS OF MEDIA COVERAGE AND GANG PREVALENCE; DISCUSSES GANG INVOLVEMENT IN CIVIL DISORDERS, POLITICAL ACTIVISM, AND DRUGS; AND ANALYZES THE PROCESSES OF CHANGE AND STABILITY ON GANGS.
Abstract
MEDIA ATTENTION TO YOUTH GANGS IN THE NATION'S LARGEST CITIES IS DISCUSSED, AND THE PREVALENCE OF GANGS IN BOSTON AND PHILADELPHIA AS ASCERTAINED IN FIELD SURVEYS IS EXAMINED. THE TRANSFORMING EFFECTS ON GANGS OF SUCH 1960'S URBAN CRISIS SOCIAL PHENOMENA AS CIVIL DISORDERS, POLITICAL ACTIVISM, AND DRUG USE ARE ASSESSED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, DESPITE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR EFFECTING CHANGE, NONE OF THESE PHENOMENA HAD VERY MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON AMERICAN YOUTH GANGS IN TERMS OF BASIC FORMS AND CHARACTERISTIC PURSUITS.