Title: Perspectives on Gangs and Gang Violence – Nonprofit Risk Management Center
Headings: Perspectives on Gangs and Gang Violence
Perspectives on Gangs and Gang Violence
Use of Weapons
Risk Management Considerations for Controlling Gang Influence

Content: Perspectives on Gangs and Gang Violence – Nonprofit Risk Management Center
Perspectives on Gangs and Gang Violence
The stereotypical media image for youth gangs is only partially accurate. According to the Justice Department, a gang is a well defined group of youths between 10 and 22 years old.” To be considered a “youth gang” a group must be involved in a pattern of criminal acts. The criminal acts, especially acts of violence, serve to cement the group together. Researchers Norman Randolph, Alan McEvoy and Edsel Erickson observe that “sharing the anticipation, danger, harm and excitement of a gang’s exercise of brutality against outsiders creates feelings of a common identity and shared purpose.” They go on to say: “Clearly, occasional acts of group violence define group boundaries, create or reinforce group identities, and bind members together in a common cause. Yet it is the shared vicarious reconstruction or anticipation of violence that is so much more relevant to bonding than is violence per se.” Howell points out that violent behavior “is not the only behavior in which gang members partake. For the most part, gang members “hang out” and are involved in other normal adolescent social activities, but drinking, drug use and drug trafficking are also common.”