Demographics

Demographics

Age of Gang Members

Respondents provided information regarding the estimated ages of gang members in their jurisdictions.

• In virtually every survey year, law enforcement agencies report a greater percentage of adult (18 and over) gang members compared with juvenile (under 18) gang members.
• The most recent figures provided by law enforcement are that approximately three out of every five gang members are adults

Age of Gang Members by Area Type

The age of gang members is compared across area types in 2008.

• Larger cities and suburban counties, which typically have long-standing gang problems, are more likely to report slightly more adult gang members than are juvenile gang members.
• Conversely, smaller cities and rural counties, whose gang problems are relatively more recent, are more likely to report juvenile gang members.

Gender of Gang Members

Respondents provided information regarding the gender of gang members in their jurisdictions.

• Law enforcement agencies overwhelmingly report a greater percentage of male gang members versus female gang members—a typical finding from law enforcement data but one that is challenged by other research methodologies.
• Despite a growing concern of females joining gangs, little to no change in the percentage is observed across survey years.

Gangs With Female Members

Respondents provided information regarding gangs with female members in their jurisdictions.

• A large percentage of agencies (nearly one-quarter) could not provide information regarding the prevalence of female membership within gangs, suggesting this issue is of secondary or lesser significance for law enforcement.
• Of those agencies that could provide information, proportionally few (less than 15 percent) reported that none of the gangs in their jurisdictions have female members.
• Nearly half of the gangs outside of the larger cities are reported to have female gang members, compared with approximately one in four in the larger cities. Of course, these results must be interpreted cautiously because of the sizeable amount of missing data.

Race/Ethnicity of Gang Members

Respondents provided information regarding the race/ethnicity of gang members in their jurisdictions.

• Law enforcement agencies report a greater percentage of Hispanic/Latino and African-American/black gang members compared with other race/ethnicities.
• The most recent figures provided by law enforcement are 50 percent Hispanic/Latino gang members, 32 percent African-American/black gang members, 10 percent white gang members, and 8 percent other race/ethnicity of gang members.

Race/Ethnicity of Gang Members, 1996–2008

Year	Hispanic or Latino	Black or African American	White	All Other
1996	45.2	35.6	11.6	7.5
1998	46.5	33.6	11.8	8.0
1999	47.3	30.9	13.4	8.4
2001	49.0	33.7	10.3	7.0
2002	47.0	35.7	10.4	6.9
2004	48.7	37.8	7.9	5.7
2005	50.1	32.6	9.5	7.7
2006	49.5	35.2	8.5	6.8
2008	50.2	31.8	10.5	7.6

HISTORY OF STREET GANGS

HISTORY OF STREET GANGS IN THE UNITED STATES

The first active gangs in Western civilization were reported
by Pike , a widely respected chronicler
of British crime. He documented the existence of gangs of
highway robbers in England during the 17th century, and
he speculates that similar gangs might well have existed
in our mother country much earlier, perhaps as early as
the 14th or even the 12th century. But it does not appear
that these gangs had the features of modern-day, serious
street gangs.1
 More structured gangs did not appear
until the early 1600s, when London was “terrorized by a
series of organized gangs calling themselves the Mims,
Hectors, Bugles, Dead Boys … who found amusement in
breaking windows, [and] demolishing taverns, [and they]
also fought pitched battles among themselves dressed
with colored ribbons to distinguish the different factions”
(Pearson, 1983, p. 188).
The history of street gangs in the United States begins 
with their emergence on the East Coast around 1783,
as the American Revolution ended (Sante, 1991). But
there is considerable justification for questioning the
seriousness of these early gangs. The best available
evidence suggests that the more serious street
gangs likely did not emerge until the early part of the
nineteenth century (Sante, 1991).

Intro Gangs in the United States

Gangs in the United States              

Street gangs in the United States date to the early 20th century.^[4] Presently, the most publicized street gangs in the U.S. are African-American; black gangs were not recognized as a social problem until after the great migration to Northern cities of the 1910s.^[5] An exception was noted in 1853 Philadelphia.^[6]

Some^[who?] have argued that increasing gang activity is directly related to decreases in adult mentors, school failures, decreases in after-school programs and similar failures by the adults in the lives of children. While kids from more affluent neighborhoods may turn to other less dangerous alternatives, children from poorer neighborhoods often turn to gangs both as protection and a place to find love, understanding and a sense of belonging/purpose.[1]
Gangs in the United States vary by nationality, race, location and purpose/agenda (in cases when crimes are often committed). Many began, and still exist, in urban areas (pre-dating the 19th century).