This collection of papers presents a representative selection of the National Institute of Justice's portfolio of gang-related research. The 10 papers are: (1) "A Decade of Gang Research: Findings of the National Institute of Justice Gang Portfolio" (Scott H. Decker); (2) "The Evolution of Street Gangs: An Examination of Form and Variation" (Deborah Lamm Weisel); (3) "Young Women in Street Gangs: Risk Factors, Delinquency, and Victimization Risk" (Jody Miller); (4) "Youth Gang Homicides in the United States in the 1990s" (Cheryl L. Maxson, G. David Curry, and James C. Howell); (5) "National Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training [G.R.E.A.T.] Program" (Finn-Aage Esbensen, Adrienne Freng, Terrance J. Taylor, Dana Peterson, and D. Wayne Osgood); (6) "Evaluating Nevada's Antigang Legislation and Gang Prosecution Units" (Terance D. Miethe and Richard C. McCorkle); (7) "Evaluation of a Task Force Approach to Gangs" (Susan Pennell and Roni Melton); (8) "Gang Prevention Programs for Female Adolescents: An Evaluation" (Katherine Williams, G. David Curry, and Marcia I Cohen); (9) "Reducing Gang Violence in Boston" (Anthony A. Braga and David M. Kennedy); and (10) "Developing a GIS-Based Regional Gang Incident Tracking System" (James W. Meeker, Katie J.B. Parsons, and Bryan J. Vila). (Papers contain references.) (SM).

In this book, Irving Spergel details the efforts of his Chicago youth gang project, a comprehensive, community-based model designed to reduce gang problems, including violence and illegal drug activity. He offers an in-depth description of the Little Village Gang Violence Reduction Project, revealing the successes and failures of intervention at each level: individual youths, the gang itself, and the community at large. Spergel relates how a coalition of criminal justice, neighborhood, and academic organizations_along with a team of tactical officers, probation officers, former gang leaders, and a neighborhood organization_developed strategies for dealing with hardcore violent male youths from two gangs: the Latin Kings and Two Six. This well-known project has become the model for a series of national initiatives. Policymakers, criminologists, and gang researchers will find this model valuable for assessing gang programs and reducing gang violence.

Since 1972, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has been the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health. To further its mission of improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation strives to foster innovation, develop ideas, disseminate information, and enable committed people to devote their energies to improving the nation’s well-being. As part of the Foundation’s efforts to inform the public, To Improve Health and Health Care, the eighth volume in The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Anthology series, provides an in-depth look into the programs it funds. Written for policy makers and practitioners, as well as interested members of the public, the series offers valuable lessons for leaders and educators developing plans for the coming years.

Revised edition of U.S. criminal justice policy, 2011.