Towards an Epidemiology of Violence amongst Gang Youth in Los Angeles.

Research indicates that, compared their non-gang peers, gang youth are likely to be both perpetrators and victims of violence. This presentation offers frequencies, initiations, contexts (motivation, environment), and the self reported negative health outcomes of various incidents of violence in the lives of gang youth. Towards this end, the presentation moves towards an epidemiology of violence amongst such youth. Data presented are based on in-depth interviews with 60 gang youth from three general geographic areas in Los Angeles collected between 2006 and 2007. Incidents of violence examined include individual fighting, collective fighting, surprise collective attacks ('jumping'), robbery, homicide and related offences, and experiences using weapons. Additional topics examined include family and personal values towards violence, access to guns, socio-economic status, and history of gang activity. Preliminary findings indicate that gang youth had extensive histories of violence, both as perpetrators and victims, the majority of which may be considered 'gang related' to the extent that it was either directed at or coming from 'rival' gang members. Negative health outcomes related to incidents of violence were extensive and included wounds from firearms, knives, blunt instruments, and being kicked and punched. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]