Gang organization and violence in youth correctional facilities
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-03-2015-0004 |
| Published date | 13 June 2016 |
| Pages | 81-94 |
| Date | 13 June 2016 |
| Author | Daniel Walter Scott,Cheryl Lee Maxson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Gang organization and violence in youth
correctional facilities
Daniel Walter Scott and Cheryl Lee Maxson
Daniel Walter Scott and
Cheryl Lee Maxson are both
based at the Department of
Criminology, Law and Society,
University of California-Irvine,
Irvine, California, USA.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine characteristics of gang organization in youth correctional
facilities as reported by youth and staff as well as to analyze the relationship between institutional violence and
level of gang organization.
Design/methodology/approach –The data were collected through interviews with staff and youth in
correctional facilities. Gang organization level averages are compared across youth and official perspectives,
and the variability of responses among youth is also examined. Negative binomial regression models are
conducted to determine the association between perceived level of gang organization and officially recorded
violent behavior, both prior to and subsequent to the interview.
Findings –Perceptions of institutional gang organization vary notably depending on who is reporting.
In contrast with prior studies of street gangs, controlling for youth demographics and offense characteristics,
the authors find no significant relationship between gang organization and violence.
Research limitations/implications –The sample size is small and the data are cross-sectional. Future
studies will need to be conducted in order to confirm these findings, as they contradict prior studies.
The analysis of street gang organization may need to be approached differently by scholars.
Originality/value –Research has not been conducted on the organizational structure of gangs in youth
correctional facilities or its relationship to institutional violence.
Keywords Gang organization, Gang violence, Incarcerated youth, Juvenile corrections,
Juvenile delinquency, Youth violence
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The relationshipbetween street gang membershipand violence in communities is one of the most
robust findingsin gang scholarship (seeKrohn and Thornberry, 2008; Kleinand Maxson, 2006, for
reviews). Theearly warnings about the impact of the growthof prison gangs on violence issued by
Hunt et al. (1993) has proved prophetic in that researchers also find gang membership to be
predictive of violent behavior in carceral environments (Gaes et al., 2002; Kuanliang et al., 2008).
Indeed, corrections officials view prisongangs as a major threat to the safety and security of both
staff and inmates (Winterdyk and Ruddell,2010). This paper examines whether the organizational
characteristicsof gangs active in correctionalenvironments areassociated with the level of violence
committed by its members. Specifically, we ask whether level of group organization –indicators
such as initiationrituals, leadershipand territoriality –relates to violentbehavior of gang members in
youth correctional facilities. Prior studies have detected a relationship between street gang
organization and gang activity in the community (Decker et al., 2008; Bouchard and Spindler,
2010) but scholars have yet to confirm this in gangs that operate within penal institutions.
The nature of gang organization is significant because a well-structured gang may be more able
to direct the activities of members, accomplish group goals such as income generation and
Received 31 March 2015
Revised 17 July 2015
1 September 2015
7 September 2015
Accepted 8 September 2015
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-03-2015-0004 VOL. 2 NO. 2 2016, pp.81-94, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICYAND PRACTICE
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