Gang Problems and Gang Programs in a National Sample of Schools

The Survey of School-Based Gang Prevention and Intervention Programs is a study of approaches used by schools to prevent or reduce gang involvement among schools. The study of gang prevention and intervention builds on a large-scale National Study of Delinquency Prevention in Schools, making use of a national sample of schools and the activities they are undertaking to prevent problem behavior and promote safe and orderly school environments. The study describes students’ involvement with gangs, the characteristics of students who are involved with gangs (including their levels of involvement with drugs, weapons, and other forms of delinquent behavior), and the extent and correlates of gang problems in schools. The study also describes what and how much is being done in the nation’s schools to prevent or reduce gang-related problems, and to assess how well these prevention and intervention activities are being done. Fewer than half of gang prevention or intervention programs have been guided by a formal needs assessment. The results of this study show that secondary school students who report being involved in gangs are less exposed to many prevention activities than are students who are not involved in gangs; the also concludes that there is much room for the improvement in the quality of programs. The research identifies features of prevention and intervention activity that local schools and communities can consider to strengthen their programs.

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Gang Problems and Gang Programs in a National Sample of Schools