Transmission of Gang Involvement Among the Family Networks

Introduction

Transmission of gang involvement among the family networks has been one of the less-covered issues in criminological studies. However, it is a crucial issue that requires more in-depth investigation. The paper critically reviews the empirical research article by Hashimi, Wakefield, and Apel with focuses on the main structures of the article, such as the research question, methodology, findings, and theoretical implications, which aims to uncover the role of sibling relationships in the process of making the potential gang member.

Topic Summary

Being a gang member is not just a case of social and environmental determinants. Although the peer group effect has been widely investigated in past research on teenagers joining gangs, the family element, particularly the role of siblings, in this process needs to be addressed. The study of the mechanisms that lead to gang involvement across generations is crucial to the development of policies and strategies that undermine and ultimately end the intergenerational nature of gang participation. Through the thorough exploration of the role of families in beginning, maintaining and ending gang activities, decision-makers and professionals can come up with solutions to tackle the root causes and ultimately bring a halt to generations of gang involvement. This well-rounded approach, through recognition of the complex web of relationships and experiences that are the cornerstones of an individual’s journey into and out of gangs, emphasizes that interventions should not only focus on negative behaviors and actions but should also address family and community settings.

Article Summary

This research article utilizes data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, examining the complex interplay of gang membership linkages between siblings. The main objective of this research is to appraise the scope of sibling influence on the diverse aspects of gang life, ranging from initiation, persistence, quitting the gangs, and the chance of returning to gang life among people of the same age group(Hashimi et al., 2021). Through the employment of event history models, the authors, in detail, examine the different impacts of being a gang member of one’s siblings on the gang involvement paths of the focal youths. Such a process helps uncover the different ways that these familial ties affect a specific stage of gang membership. This comprehensive study delves into the complex interactions that shape siblings’ involvement in gangs and their trajectories throughout their membership, therefore adding to our understanding of the familial factors that contribute to gang dynamics.

Research Methodology

The methodology of this research utilizes the longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, allowing the analysis of time sequences in brotherhood gang affiliation. Event history models are the basic instruments that promote the evaluation of gang-related hazards, encompassing such key transitions as the entry, the persistence, the exit, and the reentrance(Hashimi et al., 2021). The research integrates siblings’ self-reported gang membership as determinants, thus offering valuable insights into the impact on as well as consensus in stage gang membership among family members throughout the entire stage of gang membership. This research framework allows for the analysis of the intricate dance between familial environment and potential involvement in street activities.

Discussion on Study Findings

The findings of the study show the extent of the effect that the gang-involved brothers or sisters of focal youths have on the trajectories of the focal youths. Precisely, the study shows that the probability of entry and returning to gang activities is greatly increased by the fact that the youngsters have siblings involved in gangs. This implies that familial relationships play a major role in the formation of the initial decisions of the gang members to join a gang and, on the other hand, their possible return to the life of a gangster after periods of disengagement. Conversely, the research indicates that the effect of gang-involved siblings on their decisions toward gangs is rather insignificant(Hashimi et al., 2021). Furthermore, the study results draw attention to the complex phenomenon of sibling affiliations and how the influence of an older brother is the most prominent on the gang involvement trajectory of their siblings. This emphasizes the fact that it ischallengingy to understand all the aspects of family relationships and their diverse consequences on gang affiliation.

Discussion of Theoretical Implications

The results of this study are very important from a theoretical perspective and for the development of a more precise model of gang involvement within a family context. The study showed that siblings really do have a great influence on a person’s trajectory in gang affiliation, which highlights the importance of incorporating family dynamics in criminology. It reveals the fact that although the siblings are profoundly influenced by gang culture, they still maintain their support system(Hashimi et al., 2021). Additionally, the study’s emphasis on the fact that kin relationships do not affect gang involvement in the same way through the various stages of participation indicates that intergenerational gang activity is fragmented.

Conclusion

In summary, the study on sibling transmission of gang participation does not only enlighten the intricate dynamics between family relationships and gang membership courses but also unveils how social environments play a key role in shaping an individual’s trajectory. The research demonstrates that in different stages of gang involvement, siblings influence for better or for worse on the individuals. Therefore, it shows that families affect the routes of people that lead them into and out of gangs. These results are of great importance as they not only reflect on the theoretical side of the gang’s behavior but also provide a basis for the interventions aimed at breaking the intergenerational chains of gang involvement.

References

Hashimi, S., Wakefield, S., & Apel, R. (2021). Sibling Transmission of Gang Involvement. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 58(5), 002242782098659. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022427820986592