Gangs     [Text-only version for printing]     [back to graphical version]
 The following guide provides Web site links, a list of selected books, and access to online periodical articles about this subject. The Web site links have been researched, evaluated, and annotated by Rio Hondo College Librarians. The Librarians have specifically selected these Web sites to meet the research needs of Rio Hondo College students

Web Site Links    

Best Information on the Net - Gangs and Juvenile Crime     http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/hot/misc/gangs.htm
Very good selection of links to high quality Web sites dealing with gangs. Includes sites with statistics and gang information from other states.

Drug Use Is Life Abuse     http://www.duila.org/project.htm
 Gangs and gang crime have long been a major problem in our society.  Law enforcement has an obligation to respond to this threat to public safety. It must do so on the basis of clear and legal grounds. This site clearly outlines these legal grounds, describes the anti-gang tools that have been developed, and gives the official definitions that are used when dealing with gangs.

Gangs and At-risk kids     http://www.gangsandkids.com/
This is an excellent site that is well maintained and is available in both English and Spanish.  It takes a serious subject and looks at positive ways to alleviate gang related problems.  The site also puts a human face on the statistics.

Street Gangs Resource Center     http://www.streetgangs.com/
Site maintained by a graduate student who does research on gangs, particularly in the Los Angeles area.  He includes information about graffiti.

Task Force on Gangs and Youth Violence     http://www.commpartnership.org/gangtaskforce/
This is an excellent site not only for its facts and statistics about gangs, but also for its in depth look at solutions to gang related crimes and violence.  It is maintained and up-to-date and addresses the issue of gangs from individual and family perspectives to community and educational responsibilities as well.

An Urban Ethnography on Latino Street Gangs     http://www.csun.edu/~hcchs006/gang.html
Site was created by a professor from California State University Northridge, Dr. Francine Garcia-Hallcom. It contains information on gangs in the Los Angeles and Ventura counties, in particular Latino street Gangs. It offers a brief history of street gangs and discusses Taggers and gang graffiti.

Online Databases (Rio Hondo Students only)   

CQ Researcher     http://library2.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/
The report "Do Police and Politicians Have a Solution?" examines various topics concerning gangs in the United States.  The report contains links to Web sites, as well as a bibliography on the topics of gangs.

 Reference Books (2nd floor)
Non-circulating:

Gangs (Contemporary issues companion)
Call number: Ref HV6439.U5G358 2002

Gangs : opposing viewpoints
Call number: Ref HV6439.U5G363 2005

Teens at risk : opposing viewpoints
Call number: Ref HV1431.T44 2003

Suggested Subject Headings
For additional titles on this topic at Rio Hondo, click on the following Library of Congress subject headings:

Gangs--United States

Juvenile delinquency--United States

Media    
The following media can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library, to be viewed in the Library.

Street life : inside America's gangs
Call number: Video 000490
Police estimate that there are 31,000 gangs currently operating in the U.S. with more than 800,000 members, many of whom are female. ABC News correspondent Cynthia McFadden interviews female members of two Los Angeles gangs, the Drifters and Tepa 13. Correspondent John Quinones talks with King Tone, radical leader of New York City's notorious Latin Kings. Unscripted video footage shot by members of these three gangs provides a glimpse of life inside the net that is snaring young people all across the U.S.

Articles  
The Rio Hondo College Library provides online access to full-text articles through our online databases http://library.riohondo.edu/online_databases/index.htm.  Please note:  you must be a Rio Hondo College student, faculty, staff or board member to use these services.

The 4 sample searches below are from the ProQuest database.  Use Advanced Search and type each term in a separate box:

    1.  (SUB(gangs) )  [from scholarly journals only]
    2.  (SUB(gangs) and GEO(Los Angeles) )
    3.  (SUB(gangs) and culture)
    4.  (SUB(gangs)) AND (SUB(at risk youth))

Researched and evaluated by:
S. Valero, Librarian 5/1998
last update: D. Banton, Librarian 10/2007

[back to text-only Subject Guide Index]