Sociology 2267A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Complex Instruction Set Computing, Biopsychosocial Model
31 Aug 2020
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Week 4: Lesson 7 - An Overview of Gang-Involved Youth in Canada
Learning Objectives
• Present an overview of the study of youth gangs
• Examine internalized and externalized patterns of violence for gang-involved youth
• Review Canadian judicial responses to gang crimes
• Outline biopsychosocial explanations of gang involvement
• Identify high-quality prevention, intervention, and suppression models
Introduction
• To understand and address youth involvement in gangs, we must examine pathways
into and out of gang life
• Qualitative research provides an excellent opportunity to hear the voices of young gang
members
◦ Gang-involved youth are not "born bad"; they are trained by violent and
unhealthy adults to engage in violent offending
Overview of Gang Research in Canada
• How many are there?
◦ Difficult to find accurate data on the actual number of gangs in Canada; police-
based estimates are likely inflated
◦ Lack of academic research focusing on prevalence across the country
◦ Low-level street gangs are in a state of constant flux
◦ Challenges of counting gangs (CISC)
◦ Western Canada has higher violent crime rates and gang activity compared to
central and eastern Canada
• Where are they located?
◦ Gangs can be found in all provinces and territories except PEI, Yukon, and
Nunavut
• Few interprovincial/transitional gangs that are criminally sophisticated
and highly organized
◦ In the Maritimes, motorcycle gangs present the biggest problem; youth are
unlikely to be affiliated with these gangs
◦ There are 50 known gangs in Quebec - most are in Montreal
Gang Typology in Canada
• Gang involvement in Canada exists on a continuum
• Degree of organization if defined by:
◦ Gang's structure and hierarchical nature
◦ Gang's connection to larger, more serious organized crime groups
◦ Gang's sophistication and permanence
◦ Existence of specific code of conduct or set of formal rules
◦ Gang's initiation practices
◦ Level of integration, cohesion, and solidarity among gang's members
Document Summary
Week 4: lesson 7 - an overview of gang-involved youth in canada. Learning objectives: present an overview of the study of youth gangs, examine internalized and externalized patterns of violence for gang-involved youth, review canadian judicial responses to gang crimes, outline biopsychosocial explanations of gang involvement. Overview of gang research in canada: how many are there, difficult to find accurate data on the actual number of gangs in canada; police- based estimates are likely inflated. Lack of academic research focusing on prevalence across the country. Nunavut: few interprovincial/transitional gangs that are criminally sophisticated and highly organized. In the maritimes, motorcycle gangs present the biggest problem; youth are unlikely to be affiliated with these gangs: there are 50 known gangs in quebec - most are in montreal. Level of integration, cohesion, and solidarity among gang"s members. Street gang membership, roles, and characteristics: who is involved in street gangs, youth gang membership can be conceptualized using a concentric circle diagram.
