Citation

Zevitz RG, Takata SR. J. Crim. Justice 1992; 20(2): 93-106.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0047-2352(92)90001-P

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Opinions differ over what role big-city gangs have in the emergence of youth gangs in smaller cities. To date, little empirical evidence exists to support or refute the big-city gang connection. This descriptive study of Kenosha, Wisconsin used a variety of qualitative and quantitative data -- interviews with gang members and delinquency control personnel, media reports, and agency case files -- to assess whether the gang phenomenon in that city spread from Chicago or arose indigenously. The results indicate that minority youth gangs in Kenosha are essentially the outgrowth of underlying social and economic conditions in the community and not the product of big-city street gang diffusion.