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Social Sciences
Special Issues
Preventing Gang Violence
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Preventing Gang Violence

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Crime and Justice".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 September 2025 | Viewed by 1935

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ami Carpenter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
Interests: conflict resolution; resilience to violent conflict; sectarian conflict and extremism; identity conflict (including gang conflict); conflict analysis; human trafficking
Dr. Jennifer Roark

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Multnomah County Department of Justice, Portland, OR 97204, USA
Interests: evidence based community corrections; program evaluation; community based research; violence prevention; alternative sentencing; research methodology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to this Special Issue of Social Sciences, titled “Preventing Gang Violence”. Gang violence remains a significant and complex social issue affecting communities worldwide. In recent years, the detrimental impact of gangs on individuals, families, and neighborhoods has underscored the urgent need for effective prevention strategies. This collection of articles brings together research, insights, and innovative approaches from scholars, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to understanding and addressing this critical challenge.

The articles in this issue explore various dimensions of gang violence prevention, encompassing theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, case analyses, and practical interventions. They delve into the root causes of gang formation, the social and economic contexts that perpetuate gang activity, and the psychological factors influencing gang membership. Moreover, contributors examine the role of law enforcement, community organizations, schools, and public policy in mitigating gang violence and fostering safer environments for at-risk youth.

Each contribution in this issue reflects a commitment to evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at developing holistic solutions to prevent gang violence. The authors in this issue approach gang violence prevention from a variety of theoretical perspectives: some focus on community resilience, some on civil resistance, and others on engagement strategies and conflict resolution. By bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences, we aim to advance understandings, inform policy, and empower communities in their efforts to create environments where individuals can thrive free from the threat of gang-related violence.

We hope that this collection serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders engaged in the ongoing effort to prevent gang violence and promote the well-being of all individuals affected by this pervasive phenomenon.

Dr. Ami Carpenter
Dr. Jennifer Roark
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gang
  • gang violence
  • prevention
  • at-risk youth
  • evidence-based
  • conflict

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 305 KiB  
Article
Masculinity in the Margins: Race, Gang Violence, and the Code of the Street
by Narayanan Ganapathy
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(5), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14050282 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 272
Abstract
This study examines the intersection of race, class, and gang violence in Singapore, with a particular focus on the structural dynamics linking racial minorities, street gangs, and institutionalized Chinese secret societies—the archetype of organized crime in the city-state. By integrating race as both [...] Read more.
This study examines the intersection of race, class, and gang violence in Singapore, with a particular focus on the structural dynamics linking racial minorities, street gangs, and institutionalized Chinese secret societies—the archetype of organized crime in the city-state. By integrating race as both an ideology and a system of social relations into the study of gang formation, this research sheds light on why and how racial minorities become disproportionately involved in gang violence. The study revealed that beyond economic marginalization, racialized hierarchies embedded within gang contexts shape the motivations, participation, and mobility of minority individuals in both street gangs and the broader criminal underworld. Drawing on the concept of racialized masculinity, it is argued that racial minorities mobilize their gender and racial resources to compensate for status disparities resulting from structural exclusion in both legitimate and illegitimate spheres. In a postcolonial, multiracial society, like Singapore, where racial and class marginalization intersect, gang affiliation emerges as a means of negotiating power and social standing. The findings contribute to scholarship on race, crime, and social stratification while informing policies aimed at addressing racial inequalities and reducing gang violence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventing Gang Violence)
20 pages, 313 KiB  
Article
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: Gang Prevention from a Top-Down Perspective
by Abigail F. Kolb, William J. Kolb and Michael Favors
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14030128 - 21 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1192
Abstract
This paper presents a top-down approach to gang prevention, emphasizing the importance of addressing the complex structural conditions that accumulate to foster gang activity. In the title, we use the metaphor of “smoke” to represent the underlying structural conditions that are often overlooked [...] Read more.
This paper presents a top-down approach to gang prevention, emphasizing the importance of addressing the complex structural conditions that accumulate to foster gang activity. In the title, we use the metaphor of “smoke” to represent the underlying structural conditions that are often overlooked or ignored, while “fire” symbolizes the resulting consequences of this neglect—specifically, gangs and gang violence. The authors argue that factors such as poverty, poor education, and racialized housing policies have created environments conducive to gang membership and violence. These structural inequities not only create fertile ground for gang activity but also trickle down to affect communities, as well as youth on an individual level, leading to trauma, multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and, in some cases, long-term offending. This paper also underscores the importance of addressing individual agency as well as recognizing that empowering youths to make choices outside of the constraints imposed by their environments is crucial for effective prevention. By examining broader structural issues, this paper highlights the need for comprehensive solutions that go beyond grassroots efforts. We critique current legislative measures and propose that effective gang prevention must tackle the root causes embedded in America’s socio-economic and political systems, as most gang prevention programs fail to address the institutional frameworks that contribute to individuals’ propensity to join, leave, or remain in gangs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventing Gang Violence)
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