The Growth of Youth Gang Problems in the United States: 1970-98

The Gang's All Here: The Globalization of Gang Activity

“…Sirpal's work focused exclusively on parents and gang and drug activity, and the findings are that there was in fact a strong correlation between parental involvement in drugs and gangs and their children's subsequent involvement (Sirpal 2002). An assessment of 28 years of gang data confirmed that a primary driver was the growth of the drug trade (Miller 2001). Members of gangs are also more likely to both partake of drugs and sell them (1997).…”

“…The second, on the contrary, assumed gang activity could increase due to the increase of the primary cohort involved in gang activity: adolescent and young adult males. These two perspectives will bear a direct impact on this study (Miller 2001).…”

“…The National Crime Research Study cites poor schooling (1997;Negola 1998) and single parent, mother-led families as typical for those who enter gangs (1997;Miller 2001). Having a parent who has served time in prison also raises the likelihood that one will join a gang.…”

“…These efforts were largely ineffective, and the result was more gang activity, especially with the 1970. In fact, many of the gang members in the 1980s were the children of those who had joined in the 1960s (Miller 2001).…”

Menacing or Mimicking? Realities of Youth Gangs

“…Few gangs have the capacity to expand into other regions (National Alliance of Gang Investigators, 2005), and the notion of international migration of gangs has been debunked (McGuire, 2007). Some gang member migration does occur, apparently coinciding with the continuing U.S. population shift from metropolitan to suburban and rural areas, which was most pronounced during the 1980s and 1990s (Miller, 2001). Research shows that the most common reason for any migration is that the family of a gang member moves to improve the quality of life and to be near relatives and friends (Maxson, 1999).…”