Modern Growth of Gangs in Rural and Suburban America - Research Paper Example

(Maxson, 1993) Street gangs are therefore, no exception. This paper examines the growth of street gangs in rural America with the emphasis on California. The US Criminal Code describes a street gang as a group containing at least five persons whose main purpose is to commit at least one criminal offense. (US Criminal Code) The Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada offers perhaps, the best definition of street gangs, describing this term of reference as: “a term that law enforcement traditionally used to categorize crime groups that consisted predominantly of young males from similar ethnic backgrounds that were usually engaged in a low level of criminality, often based within a specific geographical area.

” (Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, 2004, 29) The US Department of Justice, however, notes that since the 1990s, street gangs have ceased to be gender specific and have generously spread its reach beyond urban areas and into rural areas. (McGloin, 2003, 1) Moreover, street gang crime has become more prevalent as of the 1990s and is attracting persons of all ethnic groups and ages.(Fleisher and Decker, 2001, 65-77) Criminologists typically agree that street gangs have a largely negative impact on their community and the residents.

(McGloin, 2003, 1)This is because street gangs contribute to firearms activity, violence, drug supply and demand, home invasions, auto theft, murder “and/or general decline in the quality of life,” and other serious crimes. (McGloin, 2003, 2) Since the 1990s the make-up and demographics of street gangs have changed with its growth. (Esbensen and Winfree, 1998, 505-526) As gangs and gang membership increases across America, they are branching out into rural areas and attracting diverse ethnic and gender groups.

(Esbensen and Winfree, 1998, 505-526) While street gangs do not demand the