Discuss how characteristics of larger cities influence the nature and extent of their gang problems. Be sure to assess preliminary findings regarding at least two different contexts (e.g., political, cultural) in your answer.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students should first indicate that research has shown that a locale’s characteristics have been shown to significantly influence whether a city reports having a chronic gang problem, or whether that locale reports change of some kind. While extant research does not prove causality, studies have shown that four main factors influence the nature and extent of gang problems in larger cities; these include political/criminal justice factors, economic conditions, demographic conditions, and cultural dynamics. For example, studies have shown that cities that are more conservative and more punitive tend to have more chronic gang problems. Further, in terms of demographic context, research has found that cities with chronic gang presence tend to be located in states and counties with larger non-White populations. Cities with chronic gang problems tend to have larger proportions of Hispanic and immigrant residents compared with cities with variable gang activity, locales that are more heterogeneous in terms of ethnic and racial makeup.