Criminal Investigations & Forensic Science

Throughout the history of the United States, gangs have existed in one form or another, from the violent thugs of old New York to the holdup gangs of the Old West and from Prohibition-era bootleggers to modern-day street gangs. Each type of gang has posed a serious problem for law-enforcement authorities. Police have developed numerous techniques for identifying gangs, tracking their activities, breaking up illegal rackets, and addressing the social issues that contribute to the formation of gangs. Gangs and Gang Crime details the history of criminal gangs and law-enforcement efforts to fight them, from the nineteenth century to the present.a

Investigating Gang Crimes provides an authoritative, insider's perspective on gang crimes, investigations, and trials. Featuring experienced law enforcement officials from around the country, this book guides the reader through today's gang culture and evaluates how recent trends and changing laws are impacting gang-related crimes. From understanding gang structures and working with informants to collecting evidence and conducting interviews, these top authors reveal proactive strategies for handling gang crime investigations. With a focus on targeting and dismantling local gangs, they also discuss assembling a gang crime unit, operating within a multi-jurisdictional taskforce, and using technology and social media to gather evidence. Additionally, these leaders analyze the role of the law enforcement officer in bringing a gang case to court, offering testimony, and interacting with both prosecutors and defense attorneys. The different niches represented and the breadth of perspectives presented enable readers to get inside some of the great legal minds of today, as these skilled officials offer up their thoughts on the keys to success within this complex field. Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business and legal intelligence from leading C-Level executives and lawyers. Each chapter offers thought leadership and expert analysis on an industry, profession, or topic, providing a future-oriented perspective and proven strategies for success. Each author has been selected based on their experience and C-Level standing within the business and legal communities. Book jacket.

Work as an undercover gang investigator is not for everyone. This career guide is for those young people who feel they have the physical and mental toughness and resourcefulness to work in this most difficult of fields. In addition to explaining exactly what personality type is needed and what sorts of physical, emotional, and psychological skills are required, this guide also discusses the most effective pathways to a career in undercover law enforcement, the necessary coursework, two- and four-year degree programs, training, police work, and the networking necessary to break into the undercover ranks at the local, state, or federal level. This career resource meets Common Core standards for career preparedness and work readiness content.

In Gangs and Organized Crime, George W. Knox, Gregg W. Etter, and Carter F. Smith offer an informed and carefully investigated examination of gangs and organized crime groups, covering street gangs, prison gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and organized crime groups from every continent. The authors have spent decades investigating gangs as well as researching their history and activities, and this dual professional-academic perspective informs their analysis of gangs and crime groups. They take a multidisciplinary approach that combines criminal justice, public policy and administration, law, organizational behavior, sociology, psychology, and urban planning perspectives to provide insight into the actions and interactions of a variety of groups and their members. This textbook is ideal for criminal justice and sociology courses on gangs as well as related course topics like gang behavior, gang crime and the inner city, organized crime families, and transnational criminal groups. Gangs and Organized Crime is also an excellent addition to the professional’s reference library or primer for the general reader. More information is available at the supporting website – www.gangsandorganizedcrime.com

As gang violence continues to rise across the country and the world, police departments, prosecutors, and community members are seeking new methods to reduce the spread of gang-related criminal activity. Civil gang injunctions have become a growing feature of crime control programs in several states across the nation. Gang Injunctions and Abatement: Using Civil Remedies to Curb Gang-Related Crimes examines the effectiveness of this strategy and explores the accompanying constitutional controversies related to freedom of speech, assembly, and other rights. Questions raised by this thought-provoking volume include: What are the costs of gang violence to society? Do civil remedies curb violence in the communities where they are implemented? What factors make a given injunction or abatement more or less effective? What legal and policy issues stand in the way of gang injunctions and abatement? Providing step-by-step instructions on how to establish a successful injunction and abatement program, the book presents comprehensive research on the theoretical basis for the strategy. It includes a legal and chronological progression of actual cases and their outcomes, describing weaknesses and successes in various programs. Supplying succinct guidelines from lessons learned, the book enables prosecutors, police agencies, and the public to take steps toward eradicating gang activities in their communities.

Provides an introduction to the study of gangs how we define them, what we know and not know about gangs. This title offers both a domestic and international view of processes of delinquency and gang formation and identity. It is suitable for criminal justice, sociology and social work, parole practitioners, and public defenders.