How far does the Code Reach? Analyzing the Association between Neighborhood Gang Problems and the Street Code among Incarcerated Youth

• In Event: Innovations in Gang Research

Abstract

Research on the Street Code and its relationship with violence has been frequently examined in Criminological Scholarship. Studies have revealed an increased likelihood of violence for individuals that abide by the Street Code both on the street and in adult correctional settings. Research has also shown that gang members on the street and in prison are more likely than non-gang members to abide by the Street code and engage in violent behavior. But there have been no studies that have examined the relationship between having neighborhood gang problems and the Street Code among incarcerated youth. The present study aides in filling this research gap by comparing the Street Code values of incarcerated youth that reported gang related problems in their neighborhood to those that report no gang problems. This is accomplished by examining official data and over 200 interviews with young offenders residing in California’s youth correctional facilities. This paper will analyze the association between gang presence, pressure to join a gang, and gang conflict in a youth’s neighborhood with their belief in the Street Code. Theoretical and policy implications related to the Street Code and neighborhood gang issues among incarcerated youth will be discussed.

Author

• Daniel W Scott, Indiana University of Pennsylvania