ABSTRACT
Despite advances in the management of crime and the treatment of offenders, gangs continue to represent a significant challenge to public safety. Gangs account for the largest proportion of violent crimes in most jurisdictions. The threat posed by gangs extends to correctional facilities; about a third of prisoners are affiliated with street gangs prior to admission, and gang activity in prison typically leads to violence. Compared to non-affiliated offenders, gang members on average are at significantly greater risk for the perpetration of, and victimisation by, violence. Although integrative, multi-system and community-oriented strategies exist for addressing gang problems, studies show that they are difficult to start up, implement, and sustain over time. Further, although effective interventions exist for antisocial behaviour, research indicates that they are less effective for gang-involved clients. Interventions for gang members inside correctional facilities can be especially challenging because of difficulties identifying gang members, as well as members’ more extensive and long-standing histories of justice involvement. Further, within institutional settings, intervention programmes for gang-involved prisoners are rare; therefore, most management strategies focus on segregation, restriction, and other punitive measures. This chapter will present current data on the scope and impact of gangs internationally, and discuss research relevant to understanding, preventing, and reducing gang activity. Specific emphasis will be placed on the management of gangs and gang members within correctional facilities. It will include information for policymakers and practitioners regarding interventions at the level of communities, families, and individuals, and clear proposals for ongoing research and practice.
