gang
Let an agent explain gangs as a category in criminology, relay research on causes, structure and prevention with attribution, relay legal definitions and policy responses from official sources, describe specific gangs neutrally with sources, and avoid glamorising or providing operational detail.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain gangs as a category in criminology, relay research on causes, structure and prevention with attribution, relay legal definitions and policy responses from official sources, describe specific gangs neutrally with sources, and avoid glamorising or providing operational detail.
A group of people who associate for a shared purpose and identity, in the sense recorded here a criminal or delinquent group such as a street gang, prison gang, youth gang or organised crime group, marked by territory, symbols, hierarchy and illegal activity; gangs are studied in criminology and sociology, addressed by policing, prevention and intervention programmes, and the word also names historical armed bands such as free companies and, colloquially, work crews.
What it is for: Not applicable; a social and criminal phenomenon.
It can be explain the category and its kinds; relay research with attribution; relay legal definitions and responses; describe specific groups neutrally.
Distinguishing features
Group identity and symbols
Territory or market
Illegal activity
Varying organisation
What it looks like
Not a visible object; groups identified by names, symbols, colours, tattoos and territory in some cases.
How it is recognised
Group organised around identity and illegal activity
Street, prison, youth and organised crime forms
Legitimate associations and work crews are not gangs in this sense
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in sociology
is studied by - the discipline
is addressed by - programmes and policing
In practice
Families and kinds
street gangs
youth gangs
prison gangs
organised crime groups
transnational gangs such as the maras of Central America
historical armed bands such as free companies
alleged gangs within institutions, such as reported law enforcement gangs, described with attribution
Standards and regulation
Criminal laws defining gang membership and enhancements
Anti-organised crime laws
Youth justice and prevention frameworks
International conventions on transnational organised crime
Failure modes and hazards
Glamorising or stereotyping
Over-broad gang labelling of communities
Operational detail
Unsourced claims about specific groups
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.gang-artifact
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Concept What a gang is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and kinds.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a gang in criminological and legal terms, and what kinds exist? definition
- Is the group a gang in this sense or a legitimate association or work crew? boundary
Structure
Structure and identity.
Structure
Structure.
- How are gangs organised, and what role do identity, symbols and territory play, as research describes? provenance
- Is the presentation free of operational detail and glamorisation? boundary
Research Causes and effects.
Attribution.
Causes
Causes of gang involvement.
Causes
Causes.
- What does research say about why people join and leave gangs, with findings attributed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Effects
Effects.
Effects
Effects.
- What effects do gangs have on violence, communities and members, with sources? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Response Law and prevention.
Policy.
Law
Legal responses.
Law
Law.
- How do laws define and respond to gangs, and what critiques exist of gang labelling, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Prevention
Prevention and exit.
Prevention
Prevention.
- What prevention and exit programmes exist, and what evidence supports them? provenance
- Which entry fits violence prevention? action
Context History and specific groups.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How have gangs and armed bands appeared across history, from free companies to modern gangs? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific historical group? action
Specific
Specific groups.
Specific
Specific.
- How should a specific gang be described, with sources and neutrality? action
- Which entry fits the specific group? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should street gangs and organised crime be separate entries?
- How should research and legal sources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming historical bands, specific groups and unclear terms; should they be split off or removed?