Youth Gangs and Public Policy

Abstract

Recent studies have begun to document the changing organizational forms of youth gangs in the United States. The emergence/re-emergence of these gangs, often accompanied by increased violence and involvement in drug use and/or trafficking, poses major public policy issues. However, little empirical research has been conducted on this subject, and very few studies have been based on interviews with gang members as well as official data and the perspectives of public officials. This article summarizes the results and recommendations of a two-year study of youth gangs in Ohio, focusing primarily on in-depth case studies of Cleveland and Columbus gangs.