Study Guide Juvenile Justice Graded A+
Year 2025/26 Updated - Exam 3
Gangs
• Gang members more likely to commit violence than non-gang members
• Bad influence for children (commitment to delinquent lifestyle)
• Flourish in inner-city areas that offer lower-class youths few conventional
opportunities
• Members are resistant to offers of help that cannot deliver legitimate economic
hope
• New crop of young recruits ready to take place of arrested, prosecuted, &
incarcerated comrades
Adolescent Peer Relations
• Peer relations has strong effect on delinquency
• Parents are primary sources of influence in children's early years
--But age 8 - 14 peers/friendships begin to have greater influence
--Even if born into high-risk family, child can avoid delinquency if peers refrain
from drug use & criminality
• Acceptance by peers has major impact on socialization
• Large peer network & lots of friends help avoid criminality
Cliques
• Small groups of friends who share intimate knowledge & confidences
Crowds
• Loosely organized groups who share interests & activities, such as sports,
religion, or hobbies
Controversial Status Youth
, • Aggressive kids who are either highly liked or intensely disliked by their peers
and who are the ones most likely to become engaged in antisocial behavior
• When in leadership position, they get other others involved in delinquency
Co-Offending
• Delinquent acts committed in small groups rather than alone
• Early maturation leads to delinquency
--Caused by: physical prowess, strong attachment to older/delinquent friends
Peer-Delinquency Linkage
• Peers have greater influence on occasional/one-time delinquents and less on
chronic offenders
• Peers can influence onset of delinquency, but have less affect after adolescent
enters delinquent way of life
• Peer influence plays greater role in neighborhoods with fewer opportunities for
crime, than in communities where crime is commonplace
Gang
• Group of youths who collectively engage in delinquent behaviors
• When cliques/peer groups provide social & emotional basis for antisocial activity
What is a Gang
(Klein's Definition)
• There is a difference between a group & a gang
--Viewed as a distinct group
--Recognize themselves & others recognize them (self-recognition & social
recognition)
--Criminal activities
----A gang is defined as whatever an agency decides to define it as
Year 2025/26 Updated - Exam 3
Gangs
• Gang members more likely to commit violence than non-gang members
• Bad influence for children (commitment to delinquent lifestyle)
• Flourish in inner-city areas that offer lower-class youths few conventional
opportunities
• Members are resistant to offers of help that cannot deliver legitimate economic
hope
• New crop of young recruits ready to take place of arrested, prosecuted, &
incarcerated comrades
Adolescent Peer Relations
• Peer relations has strong effect on delinquency
• Parents are primary sources of influence in children's early years
--But age 8 - 14 peers/friendships begin to have greater influence
--Even if born into high-risk family, child can avoid delinquency if peers refrain
from drug use & criminality
• Acceptance by peers has major impact on socialization
• Large peer network & lots of friends help avoid criminality
Cliques
• Small groups of friends who share intimate knowledge & confidences
Crowds
• Loosely organized groups who share interests & activities, such as sports,
religion, or hobbies
Controversial Status Youth
, • Aggressive kids who are either highly liked or intensely disliked by their peers
and who are the ones most likely to become engaged in antisocial behavior
• When in leadership position, they get other others involved in delinquency
Co-Offending
• Delinquent acts committed in small groups rather than alone
• Early maturation leads to delinquency
--Caused by: physical prowess, strong attachment to older/delinquent friends
Peer-Delinquency Linkage
• Peers have greater influence on occasional/one-time delinquents and less on
chronic offenders
• Peers can influence onset of delinquency, but have less affect after adolescent
enters delinquent way of life
• Peer influence plays greater role in neighborhoods with fewer opportunities for
crime, than in communities where crime is commonplace
Gang
• Group of youths who collectively engage in delinquent behaviors
• When cliques/peer groups provide social & emotional basis for antisocial activity
What is a Gang
(Klein's Definition)
• There is a difference between a group & a gang
--Viewed as a distinct group
--Recognize themselves & others recognize them (self-recognition & social
recognition)
--Criminal activities
----A gang is defined as whatever an agency decides to define it as
