ABSTRACT
Youth street gangs have long been associated with a disproportionate involvement in homicides and other violent crimes. Youth gang homicides are defined as homicides involving youth gang members as victims, perpetrators, or both. Because of the lack of uniformity in defining a gang or gang member from state to state, figures on gang-related homicides are not always consistent. Gang-related homicides were more likely to occur in public settings such as the street and to involve strangers, multiple participants, automobiles, a fear of reprisal, and use of firearms. A strong relationship exists between youth gangs, guns, and homicides. Most gang-related murders involve the use of a firearm. Homicide violence by youth gangs appears to be tied to a crack cocaine epidemic in the United States. Studies have found an interrelationship between gang involvement in the sale of crack cocaine and drug trafficking, and a rise in violent criminality among youth, such as murder.
