Youth Gangs

Youth Gang Definitions in Canada Any group of "youngsters" who: are generally perceived as a distinct aggregation by others self-identify as group (i.e. group name) are involved in a sufficient number of delinquent incidents producing consistent negative response from community and/or law enforcement agencies (RCMP, 2006:1) An organized group of adolescents and/or young adults who rely on group intimidation and violence, and commit criminal acts in order to gain power and recognition and/or control certain areas of unlawful activity. (Montreal Police Department (SPVM, 2004))

Youth Gangs Info Series, National Crime Prevention Centre

• Youth Gangs: What Do We Know?
• Youth Gang Involvement: What are the Risk Factors?

• The Community Solution to Gang Violence
• Edmonton Police Service, Street Gangs in Edmonton
• Montreal Police Service, Street Gangs
• Winnipeg Police Service, Gang Awareness InfoSheet

Canada

• Reference Material:
• A Blueprint for Effective Crime Prevention, 2007
• A Review of Research on Criminal Victimization and First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples 1990 to 2001, 2006
• Community Solution to Gang Violence: Risk and Protective Framework, 2006
• RCMP, Environmental Scan: Features: Focus on Youth Gangs and Guns, 2006
• Correctional Services Canada (CSC): Selected Annotated Bibliography: Evaluations of Gang Intervention Programs: Research Brief, 2005
• Street Gangs: A Review of the Empirical Literature on Community and Corrections-Based Prevention, Intervention and Suppression Strategies, 2005
• Youth Gangs in Canada: A Preliminary Review of Programs and Services, 2005
• 2002 Canadian Police Survey on Youth Gangs, 2004
• An Examination of Youth and Gang Affiliation within the Federally Sentenced Aboriginal Population, 2002
• Racial Profiling in the United States: A Review of the Literature
• Inequality before the Law: The Canadian Experience of "Racial Profiling"
•  A Research Report on Youth Gangs: Problems, Perspective and Priorities

Provincial, Territorial and Municipal

United Kingdom

• Reference Material:
• Violent Crime Seminar, 2004
• Resources:
• Home Office, Audit Website

United States

• Reference Material
  • Highlights of the 2004 National Youth Gang Survey ,  2006
  • Addressing Community Gang Problems: A Practical Guide, 1998
  • Girls and Gangs: Identifying Risk Factors for Female Gang Involvement, 1998
• Resources
• California Cities Gang Prevention Network
• Comprehensive Approach to Youth Gangs
• Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention