Crime and Social Exclusion Part 2

Question 1

HOMELESS YOUTH: Age and population

Answer 1

• Ages 16 -24
• Approx. 25,000 – 35,000 per year (2017)

Question 2

Homelessness is linked to

Answer 2

• disadvantaged backgrounds
• marginalization

Question 3

Conditions of street life led to:

Answer 3

• illegal behavior (lack of employment)
• Victimization (minor property crimes, assault, robbery, sexual assault)

Question 4

Pathways into Homelessness: 4 ways

Answer 4

1. Early experiences of homelessness
2. Housing Instability
3. Involvement in child protection
4. Challenges in school

Question 5

Seven Key Ways Homeless Youth are Suffering:

Answer 5

1. Ongoing housing instability
2. High levels of chronicity
3. Nutritional vulnerability
4. Declining mental health
5. Low school participation
6. Unemployment
7. Criminal victimization (68.7% of sample had been victims of a crime, 59.6% had been victims of violent crimes, including sexual assault)

Question 6

YOUTH GANGS: Very little Canadian research on this, and data not collected by Statistics Canada, therefore

Answer 6

no definite or clear information about how common or widespread it is

Question 7

Sources of information in US research:

Answer 7

*National Youth Gang Center – info from police forces
*Self-report surveys (school and community based)
*Case studies & observational research

Question 8

Canadian news reports indication on:

1.Gang-related violence
2. Handguns
3. Ethnic groups

Answer 8

1. Indicate increased gang-related violence
2. Increased use of handguns
3. Often described as being associated with ethnic, racialized, immigrant groups

Question 9

What did Thrashers research find ?

Answer 9

• Most likely found in neighborhoods that were “socially disorganized,” economically disadvantaged
• Function = sociability (hanging out together)
• Protect their “turf”

Question 10

What made US gangs grow in 1960s

Answer 10

• Deindustrialization, job loss in urban areas
• Rise in demand for illegal drugs

Question 11

Tanner and Wortley’s (2002) on gangs in Toronto

• Most popular activities were non-criminal:

Answer 11

socializing, protections, parties, sports.

Question 12

Tanner and Wortley’s (2002) on gangs in Toronto
and what type of criminal activities commited:

Answer 12

• drug use
• fighting
• property crime
• selling drugs

Question 13

Tanner and Wortley’s (2002) on gangs in Toronto
* Some common characteristics of an average delinquent:

Answer 13

• Male
• Poor school performance (Dumb)
• Dysfunctional families (Bad family)
• Low socio-economic status (Poor)
• Visible minority status

Question 14

Tanner and Wortley’s (2002) on gangs in Toronto
* Reasons for identifying with gangs:

Answer 14

• Power
• Money
• Respect
• Protection
• Social support

Question 15

Campbell’s research (1990) on Puerto Rican girls:

Answer 15

*Future prospects: Low socio-economic status, unemployment, single parenthood

*Reasons for joining gangs: Power, control, money, parties, excitement

Question 16

Miller (2001) 2 views of female gang members:

Answer 16

• Victims (when females are very outnumbered)
• Street feminists (gangs with fairly equal numbers of males and females)

Question 17

Joe and Chesney-Lind (1998) and Miller:

on female VS men gang members

Answer 17

Female gang members more likely than males to be victims of parental physical and sexual abuse.

Question 18

What approaches have been used to explain why crime plays a significant role in the lives of street youth.

Answer 18

strain, social bonding, self-control, differential association, and rational choice