Studying Youth Gangs

Edited by James F. Short Jr., Lorine A. Hughes

Not available to order

Publication date:

04 May 2006

Length of book:

288 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

ISBN-13: 9780759114333

In this absorbing new collection, Short and Hughes and their distinguished coauthors investigate why and how we study youth gangs. Over the last half-century of research by criminologists, sociologists, and gang experts, investigations of gang behavior have become increasingly specialized and isolated from studies of delinquency and deviance. The authors challenge popular and inaccurate definitions of gangs vs. non-gang youth groups, and show how the amazing diversity of gangs_both domestic and international_demands more rigorous study. This book stimulates thinking about valid methods of defining and interpreting gang behavior, in order to better understand delinquent and criminal behaviors, and their control. It is an ideal text for criminal justice, sociology, and social work courses, and a resource for law enforcement, probation and parole practitioners, and public defenders.
Jim Short and Lorine Hughes have assembled an important group of essays that underscore the rationale for studying urban gangs. Following in the great 'Chicago tradition' of Thrasher, Short and Strodtbeck, Suttles, and Horowitz, among others, these worksmake substantial contributions to our understanding, while emphasizing the importance of method and theory as we approach to this increasingly urgent urban phenomenon....