Date of Award
12-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Applied Sociology
Committee Chair/Advisor
Britz, Marjie
Committee Member
Granberg , Ellen
Committee Member
Sturkie , Douglas
Abstract
In the United States the presence of gangs and gang activity is a common occurrence in lower socio-economic communities; however, local law enforcement agencies often have little information about the racial and ethnic composition of gang activity in their areas. As a result, gangs are often categorized without respect to important demographic differences between them. The purpose of this paper is to examine the New Jersey State Police Gang Survey 2007, which is a statewide assessment of gang composition and activity. I use the data from this survey along with conflict theory to analyze differences between African American and Hispanic gangs in New Jersey. These differences include distribution across the state of New Jersey, location (rural or urban) and types of crimes associated with particular gangs.
Recommended Citation
Medina, Jeanette, "GANGS AND RACE: A LOOK AT NEW JERSEY POLICE PERSPECTIVES ON AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC GANGS" (2011). All Theses. 1226.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/1226