Gang Suppression and Intervention: Problem and Response: Research Summary

Spergel, Irving A.; Curry, G. David; Chance, Ron

doi:10.1037/e515382010-001

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Both Decker and Hagedorn have suggested that formalization of the structure of a gang, as well as specialization by the gang in certain criminal activities, may take place over time [26,44]. These authors also suggest that gangs may become more networked and develop as "social actors" that "play an active social, political and economic role within their communities" [43]: 119; see also [105].…”

Section: Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 94%

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Gang change and evolutionary theory

Ayling

2011

Crime Law Soc Change

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While most street gangs are temporary and disorganized, some have institutionalized, and a number of these show signs of evolving into more serious criminal enterprises, becoming more networked, technologically savvy and internationalized, less visible, more predatory and sometimes more violent. The boundaries that researchers have drawn between gangs and other types of criminal groups, particularly organized crime, are becoming blurred. Understanding why this is happening is crucial to planning effective responses. This article suggests that evolutionary theory, involving processes of variation, selection and replication, would constitute a valuable tool for this purpose. Using an evolutionary framework would enable the application of a longitudinal perspective to the microsocial level of analysis, the gang itself, which until now has not had as much attention as other levels of analysis in gang research. Taking inspiration from evolutionary theories in organizational sociology and economics, this article explores how evolutionary theory might be used to understand gang change and locate gangs within evolutionary sequences. It argues that adopting an evolutionary perspective will improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies to focus scarce resources where they are most needed and to plan and implement successful interventions.

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Section: Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 94%

“…As a gang evolves, its political activity may also increase [105]. Many Scandinavian nationalist groups emerged out of non-political petty-criminal street gangs [9].…”

Section: Signs Of Gang Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gang change and evolutionary theory

Ayling

2011

Crime Law Soc Change

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“…Students form delinquent groups for status, safety, power and excitement (Spergel et al 1994). They may even develop into more structured gangs of diverse types (Huff 1989).…”

Section: Classroom Constraintsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sufficient conditions for sustainable instructional changes in the classroom: The case of Hong Kong

Tam

2008

J Educ Change

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The present study hypothesizes that both organizational and classroom constraints mediate the chance of making instructional changes sustainable. Behind this hypothesis is an assumption that when people faces impending changes, the level of anxiety tends to increase and creates defenses which block the change. A survey of 1,876 teachers in 65 secondary schools in Hong Kong is conducted and path analysis is employed to look at how constraints in the organization and in the classroom hamper the sustainable implementation of new modes of pedagogy toward constructivism. Findings in the study suggest that both organizational constraints and behavioral problems in the classroom reduce the sustainability of new modes of individual-focused and whole class focused instructional practices, but learning problems in the classroom increase the sustainability of alternative modes of individual-focused instructional practices. The author suggests that the sufficient conditions for sustainable instructional changes within a school are an authentic professional learning community among the teachers, and whole school arrangements to provide a peaceful learning environment in the classrooms and an individualized education program for students in need.

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“…Sometimes however, instead of promoting efforts to disband gangs, communities support the gang as an institution. This can have a basis in community traditions (Sánchez-Jankowski, 1991;Spergel et al, 1994), or stem from benefits the gang bestows. In Jamaica, for instance, some communities support their local gang because it 'returns the spoils' of crime to them (Williams, 2008).…”

Section: Community Supportmentioning

confidence: 97%

Criminal organizations and resilience

Ayling

2009

International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice

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Criminal organizations inhabit dynamic environments where the pressures of competition and state opposition constantly challenge their existence. To survive and prosper, they must be resilient. Little has been written about the concept of resilience in the context of illicit organizations. This article explores possible sources of resilience for criminal organizations, focusing on institutionalised gangs. Drawing on ecological and organizational literature, resilience is defined as the capacity to absorb and withstand disruption and to adapt to change when necessary. For gangs and other criminal organizations, sources of resilience may include environmental factors and individual organizational features such as network characteristics. Resilience is not just a concept that enables criminologists to better understand the longevity of some criminal organizations; it also has implications for the strategic and operational aspects of policing such organizations, including intelligence gathering, the design of interventions and assessment of their potential unintended consequences.

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Gang Suppression and Intervention: Problem and Response: Research Summary

Cited by 32 publications

References 0 publications

Gang change and evolutionary theory

Gang change and evolutionary theory

Sufficient conditions for sustainable instructional changes in the classroom: The case of Hong Kong

Criminal organizations and resilience

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