Constructing and Deconstructing the Gang Database:A Comparative Analysis of Criteria, Policies, and Implications.

Proponents of neo-institutionalism argue that through a process called "isomorphism," organizations within an organizational field become increasingly similar over time. Why is it, then, that law enforcement agencies often differ in the ways in which they define and classify gang members? This paper compares the criteria used by law enforcement agencies in various states in defining and classifying an individual as a gang member. Attention to gang issues has dramatically increased in the last two decades, both in the scholarly literature and in law enforcement. Is it possible that the study of and policies about gangs are simply in the early stages of the isomorphic process? This paper discusses (1) the differences between sociological definitions of gang membership and the distinctions made under various legal codes and law enforcement policies and (2) the implications of these differences. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]