Criminal Behavior of Gang Members and At-Risk Youths

During the past decade, the problem of gang-related crime has become a significant policy issue in the United States. According to recent estimates, more than 16,000 gangs are active in this country, with at least half a million members who commit more than 600,000 crimes each year. Two recent studies conducted by researchers at Ohio
State University were designed to address three critical questions:

What is the nature and magnitude of self-reported criminal behavior among youth gang members?

What is the nature and magnitude of such behavior among at-risk youths -- those who are not yet gang members?

What is the effect of gang membership on criminal behavior?

To answer these questions, the National Institute of Justice funded research in three communities -- Aurora, Colorado; Denver, Colorado; and Broward County, Florida -- and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) funded research in Cleveland, Ohio. Also, as part of the OJJDP grant, researchers in Columbus, Ohio, tracked leaders of youth gangs to determine what happens to gang leaders over time.

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http://www.ncjrs.gov/txtfiles/fs000190.txt