Demystifying Gangs: Examining Gangs, Peers, and Culture

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

Gangs have been a focal point of scholarly inquiry and criminal justice policy for over a century. Despite extensive attention, ongoing debates persist regarding the nature of gangs and whether they are more closely aligned with delinquent peer groups or criminal organizations. Central to this debate is the role of group processes and gang culture, which have been examined but remain unsettled in criminological literature. This panel will feature three presentations that contribute to this debate in different ways. The first presentation will provide a historical review of various criminal groups, examining their origins, evolution, and the debate over whether gangs should be classified alongside delinquent peers or organized crime entities. The second presentation will explore the role of gang culture, proposing a new theoretical framework for understanding gang affiliation and behavior. The third presentation will focus on the ongoing theoretical debate over whether gangs are merely an extreme form of delinquent peer groups or fundamentally distinct criminal groups. Through these presentations, the panel aims to deepen our understanding of the intersection between groups, culture, and violence.

Sub Unit

• Area IV. Correlates of Crime / 24. Gangs and Co-offenders

Individual Presentations

• Placing Gangs: A Scoping Review of Gangs and Other Criminal Groups - Jose Antonio Sanchez, Texas Christian University; Jennifer Tostlebe, University of Nebraska Omaha

• "I Had No Choice:" A Theoretical Examination of Cultural Pressures in Organized Street Gangs - Marvin Mcchriston, University of Texas at Dallas

• Gangs, Peers, and Violence: Revisiting an Ongoing Debate - Jennifer Tostlebe, University of Nebraska Omaha; Jose Antonio Sanchez, Texas Christian University

Chair

• Jose Antonio Sanchez, Texas Christian University