Gangs in Court Second Edition

Author: Lewis Yablonsky ISBN 10: 1-933264-49-7 ISBN 13: 978-1-933264-49-3 Copyright Date Ed: March 31, 2008 Pages: 337 Binding Information: Softbound Size: 6 ✕ 9 Inches (US) The gangs that exist in our society today are notorious for committing violent crimes, murder, and drug dealing. Society sees gangs as being tightly knit organizations that are out to make profits through crime sprees and drug deals. However, society's perception may not be accurate. “Gang laws" around the nation are drastically extending the prison sentences of criminals who are believed to be gang members. But how do we really know when a crime is gang-related or how involved the perpetrator was in a gang? Youths are often mistakenly identified as gang members because of where they live and with whom they associate. They are even prosecuted for being in the "wrong place at the wrong time." This mistake can add years to a person's jail time and often sends them away for life. With over fifty years experience working with gang members in and out of prison, Dr. Lewis Yablonsky educates you on the ins and outs of the gang world. He covers the history of gangs in the United States and compares historical gang behavior to contemporary gang behavior to give you an understanding of their similarities and differences. He informs you of contemporary gang characteristics and behaviors including racial and ethnic issues, drugs, family issues, violence, emotional, psychological and social issues, gangsters as sociopaths, criminal and non-criminal gang activity, gang social structure, the roles of members within the gang, six categories of gang status, and more. He gives you relevant information on the death penalty as compared to life in prison sentences of gang members. He gives examples of the Therapeutic Community model for treating gang members sentenced to jail time. This new second edition also teaches you about the viewpoint of the prosecutor, a perspective that is seldom covered in reference works relating to the legal process in gang cases. Dr. Yablonsky also supplies you with numerous case studies, where he served as an expert witness, on notable gang-related court cases. As a defense or prosecuting attorney, police officer, psychologist, expert witness, or other professional involved with criminal cases involving gang members, you will gain invaluable insights into gangs and gang behavior and the legal process related to gang-related behavior and criminal activity. This book is also available as an eBook. Click here to purchase and download: Topics Include: History of gangs in America Characteristics of contemporary gangs Racial and ethnic issues Criminal and non-criminal gang behavior Drugs and violence Social and psychological issues Gang members as sociopaths Gang structure Roles of members Six categories of gang status The death penalty in gang-related cases Prosecuting and defending gang-related cases The expert witness in a gang-related case