Youth Co-Facilitated Focus Groups on Gangs, Youth Violence, and Community Responses

• In Event: Roundtable: Linking Criminological Research to Policy and Practice

Abstract

Although a great deal of research has examined the causes and solutions to youth violence, few studies have explored the perspectives of youth themselves. The purpose of this study was to gather qualitative data from youth who participate in youth programs funded by the Senator Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) in order to better understand youth perspectives on the causes of youth violence and gang activity and potential solutions. Shannon CSI is a Massachusetts-based program supporting community organizations and local law enforcement agencies in their effort to reduce youth gang violence through prevention, intervention and suppression and to improve community collaboration and mobilization. To accomplish these goals, the Local Action Research Partner (LARP) at UMass Boston conducted focus groups using a youth co-facilitator from each organization. Major themes included the value of youth organizations, increasing opportunities for positive interactions between youth and police, and addressing related problems in substance use, homelessness, and mental health. The dynamics of training program-involved youth to co-facilitate focus groups, youth interpretations of gang/ youth violence in multiple communities, and the importance of hearing youth perspectives in evaluating community initiatives will be addressed.

Authors

• Erin L Cournoyer, University of Massachusetts, Boston

• Heather Zaykowski, University of Massachusetts Boston