Perceptions of Injustice, Street Gangs and Youth Radicalization: Qualitative and Qualitative Data from Toronto

• In Event: Racial Discrimination and Crime

Abstract

Using data from a large survey of Toronto high school students, this paper demonstrates that, controlling for other theoretically relevant variables – including self-control, peer deviance, quality of parental bond, economic disadvantage and neighborhood crime -- perceptions of injustice remains a significant predictor of both street gang membership and violent offending. Further analysis reveals, however, that the impact of perceptions of injustice on gang-related offending is much stronger for black youth than for youth from other racial backgrounds. A series of qualitative interviews with African Canadian gang members suggests that perceptions of injustice often develop through normal peer and family socialization processes that are reinforced via negative experiences with police, school officials and employers. These qualitative data further demonstrate that perceptions of injustice are frequently used to justify or explain youth involvement in gangs and criminal activity. The paper concludes with a discussion of how, under some circumstances, perceptions of social injustice can move from traditional forms of criminal involvement to deeper levels of youth radicalization.

Authors

• Scot Wortley, University of Toronto

• Julius Haag, University of Toronto