Scott H. Decker

Constructing Gangs: The Social Definition Of Youth Activities

Despite previous research, there remains no consensus on definitions of who is a gang member, what is a gang, and what is gang activity. This paper examines these issues based on results of a survey administered to two groups involved in responding to gangs—members of a gang task force and officers of an urban police department—and a group of juvenile detainees. Considerable differences are observed among the three groups in their appraisal of the extent and impact of gang activity, number of gangs and gang members, and gang-relatedness of five vignettes. The implications for formulating a policy response to gangs are discussed.

The Impact of Organizational Features on Gang Activities and Relationships

What are the key structural features of gangs? How do these organizational characteristics affect gang activities? Law enforcement (Fox and Amador, 1993), media sources, the popular press and some government agencies (Conly, 1993) support the view that gangs are well organized and that gang activities reflect this reality. From this perspective, gangs are perceived as highly organized, well-coordinated, and efficient organizations that function much like a corporation. From this view, gangs have clearly articulated goals, motivate well-disciplined members toward the achievement of these goals, and operate with financial efficiency and rationality. Over time, disorganized aggregations of predatory individuals evolve into formal-rational gangs that purposively engage in crimes motivated and organized by the gang. However, an alternative view argues that most gangs are not well organized, and that the behavior of gang members reflects their status as adolescents. This issue has important implications for both prevention and intervention, and it bears on a central question about the nature of criminal behavior. However, little empirical evidence addresses these questions. In this paper, I review the results of interviews with gangs in three different cities, differentiating between the structural characteristics and organizational features of gangs. The emphasis is primarily on organizational features.

Intravenous Drug Use and the AIDS Epidemic: Findings from a 20-City Sample of Arrestees

This study identifies characteristics of arrestees at risk for AIDS and assesses the effects of knowledge of AIDS on needle sharing among those who inject drugs. Many of the intravenous drug users—particularly those with multiple sex partners—report that AIDS risk has had no effect on their needle-sharing behavior. A large fraction of those who report that they have altered their behavior in response to AIDS risk nonetheless continue to share needles. These findings indicate that the effectiveness of AIDS counseling in reducing high-risk drug use behaviors among arrestees may depend on the availability of drug treatment.

AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN MISSOURI

Recent Supreme Court decisions and public opinion polls show increased support for the use of the death penalty. Much research has been conducted to assess the effect of executions on homicide rate...

National Special Security Event (Salt Lake City 2002)

The 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games began in February just five months after the events of September 11, 2001.1 This tragedy combined with the memory of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games created a sense among some that such global public events bring unnecessary risks. In fact, a group of security experts convened by the Jane’s Information Group in the days after the attacks debated about the relative merits of moving forward with the Olympics considering the uncertain future public safety landscape. Some wondered if this event might “divert security resources from airports and other public facilities where critics say security is inadequate and underfunded.”2 The decision to move forward with the Games sent a clear message to the public that the spirit of the Olympics would not be deterred. In the months leading up to the Games, there was a sense of foreboding and anticipation of an extended period of uncertainty, fear, and economic instability. For many in the United States, the pending Olympics represented both an opportunity and a threat, a time for healing but also a time of anxiety. As Bellavita (2007: 1) observed, “The Games became a symbol of national resolve in the face of barbarism.” These sentiments underscored the importance of the symbol of the Olympic Games, something that prompted the host organization to spend more and more money, increasingly involving the federal government and its security institutions.

Time Series, Panel Design, and Criminal Justice: A Multi-State, Multi-Wave Design

Finding the right analysis for research questions is a difficult chore. Frequently, researchers are faced with a situation where the data are not suitable for the type of analysis they would like to carry out. In other circumstances, the data are not available for the appropriate analysis. This chapter presents a view to the kind of analysis that can be performed under a variety of circumstances. We present the approach to a time-series analysis, concluding with a specific application of this technique.