Summary Of What Is A Gang, By Frederick M. Thrasher

In “What is a gang,” sociologist Frederick M. Thrasher (1927) defines a gang based on a study he conducted of 1,313 cases in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Thrasher (1927), determined that gangs are interstitial groups which have an unreflective organization. According to the study, gangs form naturally, without premeditation, as a consequence of interpersonal interactions of individuals and in a particular location. A key finding in the study revealed that conflict with external groups, such as rival gangs and police, develops group awareness, tradition, and enhances the gang’s solidarity. Thrasher (1927) postulates that all members must meet face-to-face occasionally to maintain the cohesion and the existence of the gang. The study also claims that gang behavior is characterized by its collective and cooperative movement through
The basic premise of his findings is that conflict with external groups, such as other gangs and police, facilitates cohesion and strengthens solidarity amongst the gang’s members groups (Moule Jr, 2011). This implies that the method in which Criminal Justice agencies chose to address gang issues, can have adverse effects and enhance the problem, rather than solving or eradicating it.
Based on this implication and the variety of problems posed by gang criminal activity, the Criminal Justice system has had to devise and implement policies and programs specifically designed to address gang problems. The four basic program strategies are prevention, intervention, suppression, and comprehensive (McGloin, 2005).
Prevention programs attempt to deter and inhibit individuals from gang involvement. This strategy is normally directed towards the general population in communities where gangs exist and potentially pose some risk. Its main goal is to prevent gang emergence, membership, and crime (McGloin,