Gangs in America’s Communities
Second Edition
SAGE Journal Articles
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- Mares, D. (2010). Social disorganization and gang homicides in Chicago: A neighborhood level comparison of disaggregated homicides. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 8, 38-57.
- Abstract: This study examines gang-motivated homicides in Chicago neighborhoods between 1985 and 1995. Qualitative studies have illustrated that gang-motivated homicides may have different characteristics than other types of homicides. Particularly at the neighborhood level, gang homicides have not yet been fully studied, and thus little is known about the interaction between gang violence and the neighborhoods they operate in. By examining the effects of social disorganization on both gang-related homicides and other types of homicides—such as intimate killings and homicides committed during street robberies—this study explores the relative uniqueness of gang homicides. Results indicate that social disorganization theory helps explain various types of homicides, including gang homicides. Nonetheless, gang homicides are also different from other types of homicides, justifying more research that looks at these homicides as a unique type of violence.
- Abstract: This study examines gang-motivated homicides in Chicago neighborhoods between 1985 and 1995. Qualitative studies have illustrated that gang-motivated homicides may have different characteristics than other types of homicides. Particularly at the neighborhood level, gang homicides have not yet been fully studied, and thus little is known about the interaction between gang violence and the neighborhoods they operate in. By examining the effects of social disorganization on both gang-related homicides and other types of homicides—such as intimate killings and homicides committed during street robberies—this study explores the relative uniqueness of gang homicides. Results indicate that social disorganization theory helps explain various types of homicides, including gang homicides. Nonetheless, gang homicides are also different from other types of homicides, justifying more research that looks at these homicides as a unique type of violence.
- McNeeley, S.M. (2011). Lifestyle-routine activities and crime events. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 31, 30-52.
- Abstract: This article presents a review of the theoretical and empirical status of lifestyleroutine activities theory, along with a discussion of its utility for policy and practice. The article covers multiple theoretical applications of the theory at different levels of analysis, along with an overview of the empirical status of the theory for each of these applications. Particular focus is given to the lifestyle-routine activities explanations of individual victimization and offending, and the research on crime and place. Then, policy implications and existing practices based on the theory are presented. Finally, it is suggested that scholars and practitioners begin to focus on (a) the interaction of lifestyle with other factors, such as gender or delinquent values; (b) virtual places and online routine activities; and (c) the use of convergent settings to facilitate cooffending.