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Concept information

Preferred term

contemporary gangs  

Definition

  • In contemporary American society, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)—a leading state authority on street gangs—defines a street gang as groups of individuals ranging from 12 to 24 years of age. These groups vary in their size and their level of organization and are engaged in criminal and violent behavior. [Source: The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encylopedia; Gangs, Contemporary]

Broader concept

Belongs to group

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/N9J-Z6K84100-0

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