Violence by Youth Gangs and Youth Groups in Major American Cities. Final and Summary Reports.

This report represents the findings of a study on violence by youth gangs in 12 major American cities, and deals with the following topics: (1) the rationale and methods for a national survey of youth gangs; (2) the existence and seriousness of the problem of youth gangs in 12 major American cities; (3) the size and scope of the youth gang problem; (4) the social characteristics of gang members in six cities; (5) gang-related killings and other officially-recorded crimes; (6) gang-member violence; (7) gang activities and the public schools; (8) past and future trends in youth gang crime; and (9) conclusions about urban gang violence in the 1970's. Also included are statistical tables and appendices as well as a separate summary report. The report concludes that (1) current youth gang violence is more lethal than in the past; (2) more citizens today are threatened by gang violence; and (3) violence and other illegal activities of youth gangs represent an extremely serious crime problem with little chance for decline. (HLM)