Chapter 1: History of Gangs in the United States Introduction The Influence of Population Migration Patterns on Gang Emergence Street Gang Emergence in the Northeast Region First Period of New York City Gang Growth Second Period of New York City Gang Growth Third Period of New York City Gang Growth Modern-Day Eastern Gangs Street Gang Emergence in the Midwest Region First Period of Chicago Gang Growth Second Period of Chicago Gang Growth Third Period of Chicago Gang Growth Modern-Day Midwest Gangs Street Gang Emergence in the West Region First Period of Los Angeles Gang Growth Second Period of Los Angeles Gang Growth Third Period of Los Angeles Gang Growth Modern-Day Western Gangs Street Gang Emergence in the South Region First Period of Southern Gang Growth Second Period of Southern Gang Growth Modern-Day Southern Gangs Another Wave of Immigrant Groups The Institutionalization of Street GangsChapter 2: Myths and Realities of Youth Gangs Introduction Consideration of Key Myths About Gangs Myth 1: Most Gangs Have a Formal Organization Myth 2: Gangs of the Same Name Are Connected Myth 3: Our Gangs Came From Somewhere Else Myth 4: The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street (M-18) Gangs Are Spreading Across the United States Myth 5: Gangs, Drugs, and Violence Are Inexorably Linked Myth 6: A "Wanna-Be" Is a "Gonna-Be Myth 7: Children Are Joining Gangs at Younger and Younger Ages Myth 8: Gang Members Spend Most of Their Time Planning or Committing Crimes Myth 9: Gangs Often Have Highly Unusual Initiation Rites Myth 10: Most Youths Are Pressured to Join Gangs Myth 11: Adults Recruit Many Adolescents to Join Gangs Myth 12: Once Kids Join a Gang, They''re Pretty Much Lost for Good Myth 13: The Gang''s Here for Good Myth 14: Gang Members Are a New Wave of Super Predators Myth 15: Gangs Were Actively Involved in the Crack Cocaine Epidemic Myth 16: Zero Tolerance of Gang Behaviors Will Eliminate Gangs From Schools Myth 17: Sole Reliance on Law Enforcement Will Wipe Out Gangs Myth 18: Nothing Works With GangsChapter 3: Defining Gangs and Gang Members Introduction Defining Gangs Typologies of Gang Members and Gang Structures A Spectrum of Gangs and Other Groups Gang Subculture Key Elements of a Gang Definition A Recommended Gang Definition for Practical Purposes Defining Gang Members National Data on Gang Members National Data on the Number of Gangs and Associated Members Age of Gang Members Race and Ethnicity of Gang Members GenderChapter 4: General Macro-Level Theories and Modern-Day Applications Introduction The Chicago School and Development of the Social Disorganization Perspective Thrasher''s Contributions to Social Disorganization Theory Application of Social Disorganization Theory to Gangs Modern-Day Application of Social Disorganization Theory to Gangs Other Pioneering Gang Theorizing An Explanation of Gang Origins, Expansion, and Violence Macro-level Theories Underclass Theory Routine Activities (Opportunity) Theory Conflict TheoryChapter 5: Gang Involvement as a Developmental Trajectory Introduction Developmental Theories Developmental Delinquency Pathways Location of Gang Membership in Developmental Pathways A Developmental Model of Gang Involvement Perceived Benefits of Joining a Gang: Gang Attractions Relationship of Risk Factors to Gang Involvement A Delinquency and Gang Theory A Review of Risk and Protective Factors for Gang Involvement The Preschool Stage The School Entry Stage The Later Childhood Stage The Early Adolescence Stage Protective Factors Apex of Gang Member Criminal Activity Long-term Impact of Gangs on Participant Desistance from Gang MembershipChapter 6: Girls and Gangs Introduction Females in Early Gang Studies Modern-Day Studies of Female Gang Members Level of Female Gang Involvement and Seriousness of Crimes The Question of Increasing Female Gang Involvement The Importance of Gang Gender Composition Female Associates of Gang Members: Risks and Re-victimization Risk Factors for Girls'' Gang Joining Girls'' Unique Treatment Needs and Implications for Prevention and Treatment Recommended Female-Specific Services Recommended Gender-Neutral ServicesChapter 7: National Gang Problem Trends: 1996 to 2009 Introduction An Overview of Nationwide Gang Activity in the Modern Era Gang Growth From the 1960s to the 1990s Explanations of Gang Growth in the 1980s and 1990s Nationally Reported Youth Gang Activity From the Mid-1990s Patterns in U.S. Localities'' Histories of Gang Activity Patterns of Gang Emergence Presence of Gang Activity, 1996 - 2009 Patterns of Gang Presence in Larger Cities Political & Criminal Justice Context Economic Context Demographic Context Cultural Context Modal Cities Chronic Gang City: Modesto, California Emerging Gang City: Warwick, Rhode Island Contracting Gang City: Newport Beach, California Variable Gang City: Asheville, North Carolina Regional Variations in Gang Presence Explaining the Emergence, Persistence, and Decline of Gang Activity Factors affecting the Emergence of Gangs in New Cities Factors affecting the Persistence of Gang Activity in Cities Factors affecting the Decline of Gang Activity in CitiesChapter 8: Urban Gangs and Violence Introduction The Intensity of Gangs in Cities Patterns and Trends in the Number of Active Gangs in Cities Patterns and Trends in the Number of Gang Members in Cities Serious Gang Problem Trends Gang-Related Homicides and Serious Gang Activity Regional Variation in Gang-Related Homicide Trends A Snapshot of Gang Homicide in the Largest Cities Case Studies of Gang Problems in Large Cities Contextual Characteristics That Contribute to Serious Gang Problems City Characteristics Availability of Crime Facilitators Drug-Related Factors Features of Gangs That Contribute to Serious Gang Problems Number of Gangs Number of Gang Members Gang Structure & Conflicts Prison Gangs Transnational Gangs as a Version of Street Gangs Violent Hot Spots and Gang Set Space Group Process Code of the StreetChapter 9: What Works: Gang Prevention Introduction Gang Intervention: Risk-Focused, Data-Driven, and Research-Based Gang Prevention Community Assessments Starter Gangs Bullying A Framework for Prevention and Early Intervention Strategies for Delinquency and Gang Intervention and Prevention Building a Continuum of Effective Delinquency Prevention and Early Intervention Programs Child Exposure to Violence and Community SafetyChapter 10: What Works In A Comprehensive Gang Program Approach Introduction The Comprehensive, Communitywide Gang Program Model Comprehensive Gang Program Model Administrative Structure Implementing the Comprehensive Gang Program Model Evidence-Based Gang Programs Evidence-Based Gang Prevention Programs Evidence-Based Gang Intervention Programs Gang Suppression The Evidence-Based Comprehensive Gang Program Model The Six-Site Comprehensive Gang Program Model Evaluation Compatibility of the Comprehensive Gang Program Model and Operation Ceasefire On the Horizon.