ABSTRACT
There are two basic types of gang violence. First, there are attacks and threats for financial gain, including robbery and extortion. Virtually all of the victims are nongang. Second, gangs assault non–gang members and so are involved in other than gangbang activities. This chapter examines various types of violent crimes by gang members on non–gang members. These crimes have been divided into robbery, assault, extortion, rape, and violence associated with drug dealing. African-American and Mexican-American gang members involved in robberies victimize members of different ethnic groups even though there are not interethnic gang rivalries between blacks and Chicanos. A special type of gang-related robberies is against Mexicans who illegally enter the United States. Targets of gang robberies are typically non–gang members from gang areas. Gangs have ventured out of their areas to hit rival or richer targets, but by and large they target people in their own communities.
