Major and Classification
Psychology
Faculty Mentor
Karen Hennigan, Ph.D.
Department
Dornsife: Psychology
McNair Project
“Gang Involvement and the Individual”
Project Abstract
This analysis reviews the importance of allocating increased resources on education rather than incarceration for reducing gang-related crime. Our investigations show that gang-intervention programs are effective in reducing gang crime. Specifically, youth who participate in gang-intervention programs or rehabilitation programs have lower recidivism rates than youth who simply go through the judicial system. In particular, our research into types of gang-intervention programs reveals that youth benefit academically and socially from after-school programs. Creating more groups that youth can be a part of such as sports and clubs may help individuals deter from their gang, which in turn reduces crime. If there are programs to help individuals in high gang territory these programs may reduce crime rates.