Global Perspectives on Gangs, Violence and Desistance

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

This panel will focus on exploring global insights into the complex array of intersecting factors that often spawn gang and subcultural violence among young people, and particularly young men. More importantly, it will weave together collective scholarly insights from across the world (and, in particular, from the USA and Northern Europe) to explore and examine the subjective and intersecting social and structural factors and dimensions that may play a part in supporting disengagement from gang culture and violent crime. Drawing on theoretical and empirical insights into the factors that tend to support young offenders in disengaging from criminal gang activity, the panel members will explore pertinent issues such as social, emotional and spiritual engagement, signalling and the alignment of subjective and social factors. By drawing upon their collective insights, the panel members seek to open up wider scholarly discussion about the implications for future global policy and practice in relation to supporting the desistance process for young people.

Sub Unit

• Area IX: Juvenile Crime and the Justice System / 57: Delinquency

Individual Presentations

• Gangs, Masculinity and Social, Emotional and Spiritual Journeys: Transatlantic Insights from Los Angeles, Copenhagen and Glasgow - Ross John Deuchar, University of the West of Scotland; Robert Donald Weide, California State University, Los Angeles

• Toward A Signaling Theory of Disengagement from Gangs - David Pyrooz, University of Colorado Boulder; James A. Densley, Metropolitan State University

• Toward a Theory of Disengagement From Violent Extremism: A Life-Course Perspective - Christoffer Carlsson, The Institute for Future Studies

Chair

• Ross John Deuchar, University of the West of Scotland

Discussant

• Chris Melde, Michigan State University