Examining the moderating role of gang involvement on the context and impact of victimization
| Date | 13 June 2016 |
| Published date | 13 June 2016 |
| Pages | 107-121 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-06-2015-0022 |
| Author | Joanna Kubik,Meagan Docherty,Paul Boxer,Bonita Veysey,Michael Ostermann |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Examining the moderating role of gang
involvement on the context and impact
of victimization
Joanna Kubik, Meagan Docherty, Paul Boxer, Bonita Veysey and Michael Ostermann
Joanna Kubik is based at the
School of Criminal Justice,
Rutgers University, Newark,
New Jersey, USA.
Meagan Docherty is based at the
Department of Psychology,
Rutgers University, Newark,
New Jersey, USA.
Paul Boxer is based at the
Department of Psychology and
School of Criminal Justice,
Rutgers University, Newark,
New Jersey, USA.
Bonita Veysey and Michael
Ostermann are both based at
the School of Criminal Justice,
Rutgers University, Newark,
New Jersey, USA.
Abstract
Purpose –Research suggests that gang-involved youth are more likely than non-gang youth to experience
victimization. However, very little research has addressed the issue of whether the relationship between gang
involvement and victimization depends on the context in which victimization takes place. The purpose of this
paper is to examine the nature of the relation between gang involvement and violent victimization in both
street and school contexts.
Design/methodology/approach –Data were provided by youth (n¼421; ages 11-18; 70 percent male;
66 percent non-white) referred by the justice system for intensive home and community-based treatment of
problem behavior. At intake, youth reported on their experiences of violent victimization, mental health status,
problem behavior, and substance use. Youth and therapist reports were uti lized to indicate
gang involvement.
Findings –Approximately 62 percent of gang-involved youth in the sample were victimized across both
contexts. Linear and censored regression models found that on average, gang-involved youth experienced a
greater frequency of victimization than non-gang youth (po0.001). Importantly, results also show that gang
involvement amplifies the impact of victimization on key behavioral and mentalhealth outcomes. Victimization
in both street and school contexts increases the risk of serious problem behavior for gang-involved youth
(po0.001). Victimization experiences in schools in particular also may increase alcohol use among gang-
involved youth (p¼0.006).
Originality/value –These findings emanating from a unique sample of youth in treatment demonstrate the
value of considering victimization in context for intervention programming.
Keywords Treatment, Offenders, Victims, Risk, Evidence-based practice, Mental health/disorders
Paper type Research paper
There are approximately 30,000 gangs in the USA, with some gang presence reported by law
enforcement in about one-third of all cities, suburbs, towns, and rural communities (Egley and
Howell, 2013). Over one-third of gang members are under the age of 18, and many will be
enrolled in school at some point during their gang involvement. Most recent statistics show that
approximately 18 percent of US schools report gangs are present at their schools and
16 percent report that gang activities have occurred at their schools (Robers et al., 2014).
In general, gang-involved youth report higher rates of both violent and non-violent antisocial
behavior, as well as victimization by violence, relative to their counterparts who are not involved
with gangs (Barnes et al., 2010; Taylor et al., 2007). Gang-involved youth also tend to experience
a broad range of personal and contextual risk factors at substantially higher rates relative to other
antisocial youth who are not gang-involved (Barnes et al., 2010; Boxer et al., 2015). One of the
more problematic correlates of gang involvement is the experience of violent victimization,
which has long been acknowledged as a critical driver of gang affiliation while also serving as a
Received 19 June 2015
Revised 28 July 2015
2 September 2015
8 September 2015
Accepted 8 September 2015
Data were obtained through a
partnership with Community
SolutionsInc.(CSI).CSIisaprivate,
non-profit agency providing
comprehensive individual and family
services to children, juveniles and
adults. CSI is an experienced,
licensed provider of an array of
evidence-based services. This
project was supported by Grant No.
2011-JV-VX-0104 awarded by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, Office of
Justice Programs, US Department of
Justice. Points of view or opinions in
this document are those of the
authors and do not necessarily
represent the official position or
policies of the US Department
of Justice.
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-06-2015-0022 VOL. 2 NO. 2 2016, pp.107-121, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
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