Description
Book SynopsisThis book is an historical account of the emergence of youth gangs and the transformation of these into street gangs in the United States. The author traces the emergence of these gangs in the four major geographical regions over the span of two centuries, from the early 1800s to 2012. The author's authoritative analysis explains gang emergence and expansion from play groups to heavily armed street gangs responsible for a large proportion of urban crimes, including drive-by shootings that often kill innocent bystanders. Nationwide, street gangs now account for 1 in 6 homicides each year, and for 1 in 4 in very large cities. In recent years, the number of gangs, gang members, and gang homicides increased, even though the U.S. has seen a sharp drop in violent and property crimes over the past decade. The author's historical analysis reveals the key contributing factors to transformation of youth gangs, including social disorganization that occurred following large-scale immigration early
Trade ReviewOne might ask why we need yet another book on street gangs, as there have been a number of contributions to this line of research within the past couple of decades. What makes Howell’s book decidedly different is that he does not offer mere lip service to history, but devotes the whole of his book to following the course of gangs and gang formation in the US and beyond. . . .The book is saved from obscurity with a predictive epilogue that is solidly based in modernity while offering a cautionary reminder that history has a way of repeating itself. Howell predicts that the more recent immigration wave may very well have an effect on existing gang structures as well as the possibility of new structures emerging. For the money, Howell is one of the leading specialists on gangs in the US today, and keeps an eye on transnational trends. A must-have in the library of any scholar interested in studying street gangs. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above. * CHOICE *
This book represents the most complete and informative history of gangs in America. Instead of painting with a broad brush, Howell provides a systematic analysis that uniquely and thoroughly traces gang development specific to each region of the United States, noting similarities and differences among the gang developments in those regions. Readers will come away with a much deeper appreciation for the ever-increasing complexity of "the gang problem" and a greater understanding of its history in the United States. * The Historian *
Suffice it to say, Howell knows gangs!. . . .Howell’s History is an important endeavor. . . . History reads like an apprenticeship from a wise master. For this reason, History is a credible addition to an ever-expanding library of gang research. * Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books *
Howell’s rare blend of scholarly and public policy expertise is evident in this definitive and well written historical analysis of gangs - - street gangs, prison gangs, and transnational gangs - - that includes a breakdown by regions of the U.S. It should be read by all those who seek to understand the emergence and growth of gangs in the United States. -- C. Ronald Huff, University of California, Irvine and The Ohio State University
Buddy Howell has produced an informative book on the history of American gangs; it fills a void in the literature. The book presents a nice synthesis of what has become a voluminous literature detailing the American gang situation. -- Finn Esbensen, University of Missouri-St. Louis
This book covers the waterfront on American street gangs, past and present, including some of the new developments and issues that have plagued law enforcement and other government agencies. -- Diego Vigil, University of California, Irvine
Buddy Howell displays a dizzying mastery of gangs. Very few people can claim expertise of any single type of gang, gang behavior, or type of data and Howell’s uncanny ability to synthesize such material has produced a book of great value to the field. This book tackles historical, anthropological, sociological, psychological, and criminological analyses on gangs from just about every corner of the world. Howell weaves together these different strands of research to provide a serious and thoughtful analysis of gangs from their emergence in the US during the 1800s to the present. Serious debates are addressed head-on, and new directions for research and policy development are raised. -- Andrew V. Papachristos, Yale University
Table of ContentsChapter 1. Emergence and Development of Gang Activity in the United States Chapter 2. Development, Transformation, and Growth of Prison Gangs Chapter 3. An Historical Analysis of Street Gang Emergence and Transformation Chapter 4. Nationwide Gang Growth And Expansion Chapter 5. Transnational Gangs Epilogue
