1998/09/01 by Scott H. Decker, Tim Bynum, Deborah Lamm Weisel · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance #Crime Patterns and Interventions #Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
paper · doi:10.1080/07418829800093821
openalex publication_date 1998/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
This article examines the extent to which street gangs are becoming organized crime groups. Active gang members were asked about gang structure and organization, gang activities, and relationships between their gang and other groups. Gang members were interviewed in an emerging gang city, San Diego, and an established gang city, Chicago. Members of one African-American and one Hispanic gang were interviewed in each city. Roughly equal numbers of members were imprisoned and on probation. The results suggest that, with the exception of the Gangster Disciples in Chicago, there is little evidence that gangs are assuming the attributes of organized crime groups.