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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE--To assess the theory that youth homicides in Los Angeles, Calif, are largely attributable to gang involvement in the trafficking or use of drugs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS--First, we analyzed all homicides in a police database that occurred in Los Angeles between January 1, 1986, and August 31, 1988, to examine the association between gang activity and narcotic use and trafficking. Second, we used detailed data from police files to examine the same associations for a subset of homicides in south central Los Angeles. Third, we investigated the association between gang homicide victimization and victim cocaine use for all 1987 Los Angeles homicides. Finally, we compared narcotics arrest histories for gang homicide victims with histories for other homicide victims. RESULTS--Gang-motivated homicides were less likely than other homicides to involve narcotics, and narcotics-motivated homicides were less likely to involve a gang member. Victims of gang-motivated homicides in 1987 were less likely than other homicide victims to have detectable levels of blood cocaine. Finally, young victims of gang-involved homicide were no more likely to have a history of narcotics arrests than other victims. CONCLUSIONS--Our investigation does not support the theory that a substantial proportion of homicides are attributable to gang involvement in narcotics trafficking.
This article has also been published as a chapter in: Klein, M.W., Maxson, C.L., & Miller, J. (1995). The Modern Gang Reader. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Meehan and O'Carroll was to assess the theory that youth homicides in Los Angeles, CA were largely attributable to gang involvement in the trafficking or use of drugs.
METHODOLOGY:
This study was quasi-experimental. The available data sources permitted the authors to evaluate the following four hypotheses: 1) homicides due to gang rivalry were more likely than others to involve narcotics; 2) homicides resulting from conflicts related to narcotics trafficking were more likely than others to involve gang members; 3) victims of gang-motivated homicides were more likely than others to have been using cocaine before death; and 4) victims of homicides involving a gang member were more likely to have a history of arrests related to narcotics than were victims of homicides that involved neither gangs nor narcotics.
The authors utilized two separate data sources to examine the first two hypotheses. The first was a database maintained by the homicide unit of the LAPD primarily for investigative purposes. It contained information on homicide victim demographics, crime circumstances, motives, weapons, and suspects, as well as a brief summary of the incident. The second data source was the investigative homicide files kept in police district offices.
To examine the third hypothesis, the authors supplemented data contained in the LAPD database with records from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office for 1987. The Coroners Office analyzed blood specimens from all homicide victims for the presence of cocaine.
The fourth hypothesis was tested by utilizing a case-control study design. The case subjects were defined as victims of gang-involved homicides and control subjects as victims of homicides that were neither gang- nor narcotics-related. The authors evaluated the prevalence of history of narcotics arrest among cases compared with controls.
Statistical testing was completed using either the Mantel-Hantzel test or a two-tailed Fisher's exact test.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The LAPD database contained data on 2162 homicides that occurred between January 1, 1986, and August 31, 1988. Overall, it was noted that 18 (5%) of 345 gang-related homicides involved narcotics, whereas 416 (23%) of 1817 other homicides involved narcotics. Gang-motivated homicides were significantly less likely to have involved narcotics than were other homicides.
Similar results were obtained from the detailed examination of investigation files for homicides among adolescents. Out of 114 reported homicides, it was found that none of the 40 gang-related homicides involved narcotics.
Overall, narcotics-motivated homicides were less likely than other homicides to have involved gangs. Of the 281 narcotics-motivated homicides in the LAPD database, 30 (11%) were also noted to have involved gangs. Of the 1881 other homicides, 442 (23%) involved gang members.
Victims of gang-motivated homicides in 1987 were significantly less likely than victims of other homicides to have cocaine in their bloodstreams. Eight (26%) of the gang-related homicide victims had a history of narcotics arrests, whereas nine (25%) of 36 control homicide victims had a history of narcotics arrests. Thus, victims of gang-involved homicides were no more likely to possess a history of narcotics arrests than were victims of homicides that were neither gang- nor narcotics-involved.
Thus, the results of the investigation did not support the popular theory that a substantial proportion of homicides were attributable to gang involvement in narcotics trafficking.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors recommended that in further research attempts, gang activity and narcotics trafficking or use be addressed as separate, important risk factors for homicides rather than as interrelated cofactors.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - California
KW - Juvenile Offender
KW - Juvenile Homicide
KW - Juvenile Violence
KW - Juvenile Victim
KW - Juvenile Crime
KW - Drug Trafficking
KW - Drug Related Violence
KW - Drug Use Effects
KW - Homicide Causes
KW - Homicide Victim
KW - Homicide Victim
KW - Juvenile Gang
KW - Gang Homicide
KW - Gang Violence
KW - Gang Drug Trafficking
KW - Violence Causes
KW - Crime Effects
KW - Crime Causes
KW - 1980s
KW - Theory
Language: en |