Placing Gangs: A Scoping Review of Gangs and Other Criminal Groups

• In Event: Demystifying Gangs: Examining Gangs, Peers, and Culture

Abstract

Gangs and the acts of violence that they commit have long captured the attention of policymakers and scholars. Some scholars have argued that gang life is mythologized, romanticized, and exaggerated by politicians, scholars, and the gangs themselves. This has led to growing debate over the validity of the “gang” label and where gangs stand in relation to other criminal groups. Some emphasize the similarities between gangs and delinquent peer groups, while others question this view, suggesting that gangs may be more aligned with terrorist groups or drug cartels. Despite some existing studies exploring these comparisons, the classification of gangs alongside delinquent peers or more organized crime entities—such as drug cartels and extremist organizations—remains unresolved. This scoping review takes stock of the origins of gangs and other criminal groups and their evolution and starts to shed light on whether gangs belong on the same spectrum as peers or organized crime, drug cartels, and extremist group entities. Future directions for research will be discussed.

Authors

• Jose Antonio Sanchez, Texas Christian University

• Jennifer Tostlebe, University of Nebraska Omaha