1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910959012103321

Autore

Weisel Deborah Lamm

Titolo

Contemporary gangs : an organizational analysis / / Deborah Lamm Weisel

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : LFB Scholarly Pub., 2002

ISBN

1-280-36125-5

9786610361250

1-59332-033-7

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (234 p.)

Collana

Criminal justice

Disciplina

364.1/06/6

Soggetti

Gangs - United States

Gangs - Illinois - Chicago

Gangs - California - San Diego

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 205-224) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Intro -- Contents -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- 1 INTRODUCTION -- 2 Understanding Gangs: Contributions Of Research And Theory -- 3 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH -- 4 ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES OF FOUR GANGS -- 5 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION -- APPENDIX -- NOTES -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX.

Sommario/riassunto

Contemporary gangs are persistent despite efforts to control them. Theories of gangs explain the emergence of gangs but offer little insight into their persistence and growth. Weisel examined the organizational characteristics of four criminal gangs. Although large gangs appear disorganized, they are not ephemeral groups. Instead the gangs feature characteristics of organic-adaptive organizations rather than hierarchical or bureaucratic organizations. As such, these gangs feature blended goals, shared decision making, a structure based on subdivisions, and a generalist orientation. Such features promote efficiency in a highly volatile environment and contribute to increases in the size and number of contemporary gangs in America.