The Social Organization of Street Gang Activity in an Urban Ghetto

Venkatesh, Sudhir

doi:10.1086/231172

Cited by 245 publications

(161 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…For example, gang members provide financial aid (albeit from drug trade profits) to disadvantaged communities and provide law and order services, security escorts 22 Running head: Street gangs theory research for recreational programs and assist impoverished households by supplying groceries, free transportation and manpower (Venkatesh, 1997). It is also paradoxical that, while gang membership may be considered to occur because of a breakdown in formal and informal social control, research offers us examples of gangs that provide social control.…”

Section: Control Theory: Empirical Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Street gang theory and research: Where are we now and where do we go from here?

Wood

Alleyne

2010

Aggression and Violent Behavior

151

135

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Recent years have seen an upsurge of attention paid to street gangs as scholars and criminal justice officials strive to understand and counteract the effects of gang membership. Yet, despite a wealth of theoretical frameworks and empirical findings, even fundamental issues such as an agreed definition continue to elude us. We consider some of the most influential theoretical frameworks and associated empirical findings and find that as it stands, our knowledge on gangs is still limited and rather muddy. We suggest that future directions should adopt a more multidisciplinary approach to the study of gangs. To this end, we argue that there is a role for psychology in this important body of work, and that its involvement will provide us with a deeper and more meaningful understanding of gangs and the youth who join them. 3 Running head: Street gangs theory research

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Section: Control Theory: Empirical Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Street gang theory and research: Where are we now and where do we go from here?

Wood

Alleyne

2010

Aggression and Violent Behavior

151

135

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In the United States sociologists have suggested that the street gang in deprived inner city neighbourhoods may act as a 'substitute for poorly functioning familial structures; its value orientation offers a moral chart for those youths excluded from mainstream cultural systems' (Venkatesh, 1997;p. 89).…”

Section: The Social Context Of Dependencementioning

confidence: 99%

The role of solvents in the lives of Kenyan street children: an ethnographic perspective

Cottrell-Boyce¹

2011

ajdas

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This paper explores the use of solvents among a group of street children in Ruiru, a satellite town of Nairobi. Solvent use is functional-dulling the senses against the hardship of the streetyet it also provides a link to the support structure of the 'street family' as a potent symbol of shared experience. Organisations working to rehabilitate street children are criticised for failing to appreciate the social context of solvent dependence amongst street children. Dependence on glue is preceded by dependence on 'street families', therefore organisations working to rehabilitate street children need to ensure they work through, rather than in conflict with, the 'street family'.

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“…The research on gang organization has expanded beyond drug selling to areas such as the penetration of gangs into community organization and the ability of gangs to organize homicide. 14,15 155…”

Section: The Organizational Structure Of Gangsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gangs, Terrorism, and Radicalization

Decker¹,

Pyrooz²

2011

JSS

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What can street gangs tell us about radicalization and extremist groups? At first glance, these two groups seem to push the boundaries of comparison. In this article, we examine the important similarities and differences across criminal, deviant, and extremist groups. Drawing from research on street gangs, this article explores issues such as levels of explanation,organizational structure, group process, and the increasingly important role of technology and the Internet in the context of radicalization. There are points of convergence across these groups, but it is important to understand the differences between these groups. This review finds little evidence to support the contention that American street gangs are becoming increasingly radicalized. This conclusion is based largely on organizational differences between gangs and terror groups.

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The Social Organization of Street Gang Activity in an Urban Ghetto

Cited by 245 publications

References 14 publications

Street gang theory and research: Where are we now and where do we go from here?

Street gang theory and research: Where are we now and where do we go from here?

The role of solvents in the lives of Kenyan street children: an ethnographic perspective

Gangs, Terrorism, and Radicalization

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