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Gang Memership

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Gang Membership
Esmeralda Sinanovic
Thomas Edison State College

February 09, 2014

Gang Membership “According to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions, and up to 90 percent in others” (Gangs, n.d.). Such high numbers in crime involvement raise a concern. What are some characteristics of gangs?
Gang members mostly are males with females being 20%-40% of gang members. According to NYGC 2012 survey most gang members are above age 18 with some as young as 11 years old with gang membership peak of 14 and 15 years old (Egley, Maxon, Miller, & Klein, 2014). When compared across area survey 1996-2011 surveys show that larger cities and suburbs where gangs have been for a long time, have more adult gang members than juvenile. Across all area types, the majority of law enforcement agencies report that African-American/black and/or Hispanic/Latino individuals predominate all gangs. (National Youth Gang Survey Analysis, n.d.). In early 1900s gangs were described based on their nationality while after 1950s gangs were identifies by race and ethnicity (Egley, Maxon, Miller, & Klein, 2014).Criminal behavior is the main characteristic of all gangs across all areas. The majority of crimes that gangs are involved are drug sales, aggravating assaults, robbery, firearm sales, breaking and entering, auto theft, and larceny.
Researchers have brought forth theories on why youth joins gangs. Thrasher in 1927 brings the theory of Social Disorganization where the boys interest is lost and forced him to the street due to breakdown of conventional institutions like school, church, and most importantly family (Egley, Maxon, Miller, & Klein, 2014).Many other researchers have brought out theories based on cultural ,social, environmental and psychological factors. According

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