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NCJRS Library
The NCJRS Abstracts Database contains abstracts of more than 215,000 criminal justice, juvenile justice, and substance abuse resources housed within the NCJRS Library. Search the NCJRS Abstracts Database for resources on this topic.
 
 
Gangs at a Glance
Total Number of Programs: 15
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No Effects   14% No Effects
Promising   66% Promising
Effective   20% Effective
 

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Crime & Crime Prevention

Gangs

There is no single, universally accepted definition of a “gang.” Many state and local jurisdictions have developed statutory definitions. The following are common criteria for classifying a group as a gang.

  • The group has three or more members, generally aged 12–24.
  • Members share an identity, typically linked to a name, and often other symbols.
  • Members view themselves as a gang, and they are recognized by others as a gang.
  • The group has some permanence and a degree of organization.
  • The group is involved in an elevated level of criminal and/or delinquent activity.

This definition refers to what some call “street gangs” and does not generally include organized crime groups, hate groups, or groups driven exclusively by ideology. 
OJP Publications

Assessment of the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative: Final Project Report, NIJ-Sponsored, July 2012
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Assessment of the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative: Executive Summary, NIJ-Sponsored, July 2012
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Highlights of the 2010 National Youth Gang Survey, OJJDP, April 2012
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Social Networks, Delinquency, and Gang Membership: Using a Neighborhood Framework to Examine the Influence of Network Composition and Structure in a Latino Community, OJJDP, February 2012
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Street Outreach and the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model, OJJDP-Sponsored,BJA-Sponsored, June 2012
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Q&A

How can I obtain the Parents' Guide to Gangs?
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Where can I find information on prison gangs?
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Where can I find data on juvenile gang activity in the United States?
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Related Resources

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

National Gang Center

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