U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

TERROR IN THE STREETS

NCJ Number
49383
Author(s)
G MCLEAN
Date Published
1977
Length
190 pages
Annotation
CASES FROM POLICE FILES, INTERVIEWS WITH GANG MEMBERS, AND PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS ARE WOVEN INTO A PICTURE OF ADOLESCENT GANGS IN CALIFORNIA. CHINESE, CHICANO, AND BLACK GANGS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THIS INFORMAL NARRATIVE CONTINUALLY POINTS OUT THAT SINCE 1970 YOUTH GANGS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE VIOLENT, THAT THE MEMBERS HAVE BECOME YOUNGER, AND THAT TRADITIONAL HANDLING OF JUVENILES HAS HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON THE CRIMES THESE GANGS COMMIT. THE CASE HISTORIES ARE REPLEAT WITH TALES OF 12-YEARS-OLDS GANGING UP TO ROB ELDERLY PERSONS OR RUNNING EXTORTION RACKETS AT SCHOOL. INTERVIEWS WITH GANG MEMBERS IN CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS CONFIRM THE SUSPICION THAT IMPRISONMENT DOES NOT END GANG ACTIVITY; IT ONLY TRANSFERS ITS LOCATION. THE FOUR GANGS BATTLING FOR DOMINION IN THE CALIFORNIA PRISON SYSTEM ARE EXAMINED: THE BLACK GUERRILLA FAMILY, THE ARYAN BROTHERHOOD (FORMED TO PROTECT WHITES FROM BLACKS AND CHICANOS AND USING THE SWASTIKA AS ITS SYMBOL), THE MEXICAN MAFIA, AND THE NUESTRA FAMILIA. THE MEXICAN MAFIA AND NUESTRA FAMILIA ARE CALLED THE LARGEST PRISON GANGS AND THE ONES CAUSING THE MOST TROUBLE. A SEPARATE SECTION IS DEVOTED TO GANGS OF SAN FRANCISCO'S CHINATOWN. THE CULTURAL BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT THE BOATLOADS OF IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG FROM FINDING JOBS AND THE DETERIORATION OF CHINESE FAMILY LIFE ARE DISCUSSED AGAINST THE HISTORICAL ACCEPTANCE OF GANGS IN CHINESE CULTURE. THE YOUTH GANG SITUATION HAS SO DETERIORATED THAT ONE OF THE OLD, ESTABLISHED 'PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS' IS NOW THE MAJOR LAW-AND-ORDER FORCE IN CHINATOWN. THE BOOK HAS A STRONG CHRISTIAN ORIENTATION. THROUGHOUT IT MAINTAINS THAT TRADITIONAL METHODS OF HANDLING JUVENILES ARE FAILING. A DOUBLE-PRONGED ATTACK IS SUGGESTED: GREATER INVOLVEMENT BY THE POLICE TO BREAK UP THE GANG STRUCTURE SO THAT VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT FORCED TO JOIN A GANG TO SURVIVE, AND MOBILIZATION OF SCHOOLS AND CITIZENS TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES FOR CHILDREN. IT IS ESPECIALLY SUGGESTED THAT THE CHURCHES NEED TO GET INTO THE GHETTOS AND OFFER A CONSTRUCTIVE MINISTRY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)