NCJ Number
143558
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 647-665
Date Published
1992
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The development of Asian gangs in San Francisco is described, based on personal interviews from an ongoing study of gangs in the city.
Abstract
The 73 interviews included a detailed tape-recorded section used to obtain qualitative data and a schedule of questions used for quantitative purposes. The participants were located by means of snowball sampling techniques, starting with referrals from personnel of community agencies serving gang members and troubled youths. The data collection took place over 18 months. Findings indicated that Asian gangs first emerged when a large number of Chinese immigrant youths who arrived in San Francisco in the late 1960's were forced into self-reliance by the city's failure to recognize the needs of its newcomers. The integration of Asian gangs into the criminal subculture in the Chinese community, the lack of legitimate opportunities available to youths, and hostility from other ethnic and Asian groups contributed to subsequent generations of Asian gangs. 30 references