P098 - The mechanisms of gang homicides – a social network analysis of Swedish street gangs

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

Gun homicides and explosions related to organized crime have increased significantly during the past few years in Sweden. Simultaneously, no other European country has experienced a corresponding development, and the Swedish government has declared organized crime as a serious national threat. The individuals carrying out the murders are often underaged, but few studies have examined the mechanisms (e.g. motives and incentives) behind the shootings. Gang homicides are calculated crimes – linked with the organizational structure of the gang and affected by internal rules, geographical variables, and the prospect of criminal careers within the network. Therefore, the aim of this research is to understand the organizing mechanisms in Swedish street gangs through their co-offending network’s clustering – and the correlation between the network dynamics and gun homicides. Methodologically, the study combines qualitative and quantitative data through network analysis. The empirical material consists of 1) register-based individual data on criminal suspicion, 2) police records of wiretapped conversations between gang members, and 3) transcribed chat dialogues, containing the planning of several gun homicides on encrypted platforms. Methodological and ethical implications will be discussed throughout the process. This presentation is an ongoing research project, which seeks to make a valuable contribution to the research field of organized crime whilst providing insights on crime prevention and gang homicides to law-enforcement agencies and policy makers.

Authors

• Henrietta Johansson, Linnéuniversitetet

• Henrietta Johansson, Linnéuniversitetet