Policy and Program Implications

To devise an appropriate response to hybrid gangs, law enforcement and other community agencies must understand that hybrids do not operate by traditional rules but they often follow general patterns that distinguish them as a new type of gang. That is, they often have members of different racial/ethnic groups, members may claim multiple gangs, codes of conduct may be unclear, graffiti may contain a mixture of symbols, and they may be involved in criminal activity alongside other gangs. In other instances, exemplified by the many cities that have factions of Black Gangster Disciples or Rollin’ 60s Crips, there may be differing levels of true connection to the original gang, or the tie may be primarily related to criminal activities such as drug trafficking. This melting pot of gangs and gang culture can confuse concerned agencies, including those in the juvenile and criminal justice systems, as they struggle to separate gangs into neat categories that often do not exist. It is vitally important for law enforcement to concentrate on gang-related criminal activity rather than on more ephemeral aspects of gang affiliation or demographics.

When addressing local gang problems, communities need to understand ongoing changes in the Nation’s gang dynamics, provide and participate in updated gang-related training, and monitor the specific gangs and associated cultures within their own jurisdictions. Unfortunately, one thing has not changed with the advent of the hybrid gang. There is no universal formula for a patently successful response, and what works in one city may have little impact in another. An effective strategy must be based on an accurate assessment of the local problem, updated information about local gang activities, an examination of resources in the community, and a realistic appraisal of how to gauge the impact of the response. As many agencies as possible, particularly local government and police administration, must be included early in the process of developing a strategy for gang prevention and intervention. The more resources and partners that are involved, especially those with authority to respond directly to gangs, the greater a community’s chances for success.

All jurisdictions experiencing gang problems need to assess their problems carefully in light of the gang characteristics reviewed in this Bulletin. NYGC (2001a) has developed a protocol that communities can use to guide the assessment of their gang problem. This assessment protocol is applicable in communities of all sizes and characteristics.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has invested considerable resources in the development and testing of a Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression (Spergel et al., 1994). This model, based on a national assessment of youth gang policies and programs (Spergel and Curry, 1990), is a general framework that addresses the youth gang problem through the following five interrelated strategies:

• Community mobilization.
• Social intervention, including prevention and street outreach.
• Provision of opportunities.
• Suppression/social control.
• Organizational change and development.

The model is multifaceted and multilayered, involving the individual youth, the family, the gang structure, local agencies, and the community. NYGC (2001b) has prepared a planning guide to assist communities in developing a plan to implement OJJDP’s Comprehensive Gang Model.

Hybrid and Other Modern Gangs	Juvenile Justice Bulletin • December 2001