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Gangs

A Guide to Selected Government Information Available at WIU's Government Publications Library

Web version of this guide includes links to web resources.

Federal Government Information

National Gang Center

The purpose of the NYGC is to assist policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in their efforts to reduce youth gang involvement and crime by contributing information, resources, practical tools, and expertise towards the development and implementation of effective gang prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies.

U.S. Gang Problem Trends and Seriousness, 1996-2009

A brief history of gangs in the United States begins this short report that includes statistics on gang-related activity and violent crime.

Gangs in Rural America, Final Report

This study analyzes gang presence in nonmetropolitan areas using a unique data set created for the project and interviews with non-metropolitan officials. 2001
GOVWEB.J 1.2:2004024417

Gangs and Crime in Latin America

This hearing examines the growing threat of street gangs in Latin America, which has been dubbed "the most violent region in the world". 2005
Y 4.IN 8/16:G 15/2

Highlights of the 2004 National Youth Gang Survey

This fact sheet dated April 2006 summarizes 2004 data regarding gang activity.
J 32.21:2006/1

Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005

Today the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice estimate that there are somewhere between 750,000 and 850,000 gang members in America. This hearing looks at a bill designed to put the full force of the nation's federal, state, and local law enforcement behind apprehension of criminal gang members and to impose tougher sentences on those convicted of gang-related violent crime. 2005
Y 4.J 89/1:109-50

Prevention of Youth and Gang Violence

Youth gangs kill seven times as many people as so-called organized crime. This hearing offers testimony regarding a senate bill designed to criminalize criminal street gangs. 2005
Y 4.J 89/2:S.HRG.109-77

Immigration and the Alien Gang Epidemic: Problems and Solutions

This hearing examines the role of aliens in gang crimes, investigates the immigration factors that have shaped the gang epidemic, and assesses the use of immigration laws in controlling alien gang crime. 2005
Y 4.J 89/1:109-8

Alien Gang Removal Act of 2005

This hearing discusses the pros and cons of an act to change immigration laws in order to reduce the number of immigrant gang members in the U.S. 2005
Y 4.J 89/1:109-52

G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training)

Began as a combined effort of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Phoenix Police Department, this program has grown into a school-based, multi-agency supported classroom curriculum used across the country. Its primary goal is to deter youth violence and gang membership.

2005 National Gang Threat Assessment

This report provides a national and regional picture of the threat posed by gangs.

Evaluation of the Bloomington-Normal Comprehensive Gang Program

This 447 page NCJRS report presents the findings of a four-year study to investigate the conditions that perpetuate the youth gang problem and to develop a model of community effort to reduce it. 2005

Violent Gangs

This FBI website offers information on Federal Bureau of Investigation initiatives to stop gang activity, as well as fast facts on drugs and gangs and tips to recognize gang involvement.

Gangs Or Us

Comprehensive website of former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Robert Walker detailing indicators of gang presence and information on street gangs, prison gangs, female gangs, state gang statutes, court decisions, research links, and more.

Addressing Your Community's Youth Gang Problem

Downloadable and offered as a CDROM, A Guide to Assessing Your Community's Youth Gang Problem helps communities to identify gang-related problems, their contributing factors, target groups for prevention efforts, and options for developing an integrated plan to reduce gang crime.

Illinois Government Information

"Deadly Migration"

This article discusses the fact that Chicago street gangs are moving their operations to suburbs and rural areas in order to escape the intense law enforcement of Chicago police. Smaller police departments are less equipped to deal with gang-related problems; thus, the need for a national gang strategy is examined.
Illinois Issues. Vol. 30, No. 4 April 2004 pp. 14-17.
ILLINOIS 320.9 ILLI

An Evaluation of the Illinois Department of Corrections' Gang-Free Environment Program

Findings from a 5-month evaluation of Taylorville Correctional Center, a gang-free prison. 1999
ILLINOIS 364.1066 GRAN 1999

An Evaluation of the Illinois State Police Gang Crime Witness Protection Program

A look at gang-related witness intimidation and the formation of the Gang Crime Witness Protection Program. 1997
ILLINOIS 347.055 EVAL

Legal Information

Compilation of Gang-Related Legislation

As part of the National Youth Gang Center offered by the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, this website offers gang-related legislation by state, by subject, and municipal codes by subject.

"Constitutional Law -- Equal Protection -- Ninth Circuit Holds That Cell Assignments Based on Race Are Permissable"

-- Johnson v. California 321 F.3d 791 (9th Cir. 2003). This review prevents a historical examination of case law relevant to the constitutionality of race-based segregation in prisons. Prison officials often segregate racially to deter gang violence.
Harvard Law Review. Vol. 117, No. 7 May 2004 pp.2448-55

"Controlling Street Gangs"

In Chapter 2 of this casebook are excerpts from law reviews and other documents which examine police discretion, community policing, and public order maintenance, as well as current research on youth gangs and case law.
Cases and Materials on Juvenile Justice Administration. pp. 158-181
LEGL REF 9778.F45 2004

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