27:202:653:01
Gangs
Spring Semester 2015
Ko-lin Chin
1. Course Information
Class time: Thursday 2:00 to 4:40
Location of class: B25
Office Hours: Thursday 5:00 to 6:00
Phone: 973-353-1488
Email: [email protected]
2. Course overview/course description
This course examines the gang problem in the United States. It explores the nature of
gangs, including issues such as defining gangs, types of gangs, and female gang
involvement. It also examines the theory and methods of understanding gangs, and the
group process of gangs. This course further investigates the criminal involvement of
gangs, focusing on gang members’ involvement in extortion, drugs, violence, and other
crimes. Moreover, the community context of gangs will also be discussed. Finally, the
course examines programs for social intervention and law enforcement, and policy issues
related to gangs.
3. Prerequisites: none
4. Course Requirements and Processes
The course will be taught as a seminar. As such, the expectation is that students will both
attend and be prepared from the readings to discuss the topic of the day. The final grade
will be based upon class preparation and participation, exam, presentation, and term
paper.
5. Grading
1. Class attendance and participation
2. Exam (April 9)
3. Presentation
4. Paper (May 7)
10%
40%
10%
40%
6. Required Texts
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Street Gang Patterns and Policies. New
York: Oxford University Press. (Paperback)
Venkatesh, Sudhir. 2008. Gang Leader for a Day. New York: Penguin Press. (Paperback)
7. Schedule
January 22: Orientation
January 29: Introduction
Readings:
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Introduction. Street Gangs Patterns and
Policies. New York: Oxford University Press.
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Gang prevalence, proliferation, and
migration. Chapter 1, Street Gangs Patterns and Policies. New York: Oxford University
Press.
Sullivan, Mercer. 2005. Maybe we shouldn't study "gangs." Journal of Contemporary
Criminal Justice 21 (2): 170-190.
February 5: Theories and research
Readings.
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Individual-level context: Risk factors for
joining gangs. Chapter 4, Street Gangs Patterns and Policies. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Hagedorn, John. 1998. How do gangs get started? Chapter 3, People and Folks. Chicago:
Lake View Press.
Chin, Ko-lin. 2000. Introduction. Chapter 1, Chinatown Gangs. New York: Oxford
University Press.
February 12: No class; SCJ 40th Anniversary
February 19: Activities
Readings:
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Gang crime patterns. Chapter 2, Street Gangs
Patterns and Policies. New York: Oxford University Press.
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Chin, Ko-lin. 2000. Patterns of gang extortion. Chapter 4, Chinatown Gangs. New York:
Oxford University Press.
Jankowski, Martin Sanchez. 1991. Gang business. Chapter 4, Islands in the Street.
Berkeley: University of California Press.
February 26: Drugs and violence
Padilla, Felix. 1992. The Diamonds as a business enterprise. Chapter 4, The Gangs as an
American Enterprise. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Hagedorn, John. 1994. Homeboys, dope fiends, legits and new jacks. Criminology 32 (2):
197-219.
Chin, Ko-lin. 2000. Gang violence. Chapter 7, Chinatown Gangs. New York: Oxford
University Press.
March 5:
Structure and Community
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Gang structure and group processes. Chapter
5, Street Gangs Patterns and Policies. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hagedorn, John. 1998. How do gangs get organized? Chapter 4, People and Folks.
Chicago: Lake View Press.
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Community contexts. Chapter 6, Street Gangs
Patterns and Policies. New York: Oxford University Press.
March 12:
Gender and ethnicity
Miller, Jody. 2001. Gender and victimization in gangs. Chapter 7, One of the Guys: Girls,
Gangs, and Gender. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hagedorn, John. 1998. What happened to the beer that Milwaukee famous? Chapter 2,
People and Folks. Chicago: Lake View Press.
Vigil, James Diego. 2002. Mexican Americans in the barrios of Los Angeles. Chapter 3,
A Rainbow of Gangs. Austin: University of Texas Press.
March 19:
Spring recess
March 26:
Control
Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Six major gang control programs. Chapter 3,
Street Gangs Patterns and Policies. New York: Oxford University Press.
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Klein, Malcolm and Cheryl Maxson. 2010. Multiple goals for gang control programs and
policies. Chapter 7, Street Gangs Patterns and Policies. New York: Oxford University
Press.
Gang Leader for a Day (Chap. 1 – 2)
April 2:
Gang Leader for a Day (Chap. 3 – 6)
April 9:
Gang Leader for a Day (Chap. 7 – 8)
Exam
April 16:
Student presentations
April 23:
Student presentations
April 30:
Student presentations
1. General information(School and University)
Academic Integrity
As a member of the Rutgers University community you are not to engage in any
academic dishonesty. You are responsible for adhering to basic academic
standards of honesty and integrity as outlined in the Rutgers University Policy on
Academic Integrity for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
(http://cat.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html). Your academic work should be the
result of your own individual effort, you should not allow other students to use
your work, and you are required to recognize and reference any material that is
not your own. Violations of the university’s policy will result in appropriate
action.
Students with Disabilities
As stated in the Manual for Students and Coordinators of Services for Students
with Disabilities (http://disabilityservices.rutgers.edu/docs/studentmanual.pdf),
Rutgers University “is committed to providing equal educational opportunity for
persons with disabilities in accordance with the Nondiscrimination Policy of the
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University and in compliance with § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.” For students with
disabilities, review the manual and then contact The Office of Student Life &
Leadership, Disability Services at 973-353-5300 located in the Robeson Campus
Center Rm 352.
Psychological and Counseling Services
If you experience psychological or other difficulties as a result of this course, or
because of other issues that may interfere with your performance in the course,
please contact the university’s psychological and counseling service center
(http://www.counseling.newark.rutgers.edu; 973-353-5805), which is located in
Blumenthal Hall, room 101. The center offers a variety of free, confidential
services to part-time and full-time students who are enrolled at Rutgers.
If you are interested in finding out more about
• Accelerated Master's Program (B.S. /M.A.)
• Criminal Justice National Honor Society (Alpha Phi Sigma)
Please refer to the School of Criminal Justice website http://www.newark.rutgers.edu/rscj
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