4.3. By referencing two sources, provide a definition for the concept ‘gang’
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, a gang is defined as "a group of three or more individuals who have a common identity and engage in criminal activity." This definition highlights the importance of both the collective identity and the involvement in illegal behavior.
Another source, the National Institute of Justice, provides a similar definition, stating that a gang is "a group or association of three or more individuals who: (a) possess a common name or identifying sign, symbol, or color; (b) members individually or collectively engage in, or have engaged in, criminal activity; and (c) may associate together on a level of regularity or continuity."
These definitions emphasize the key characteristics of a gang, including the shared identity, criminal involvement, and regular association among members. It is important to note that the definitions acknowledge that gangs are not limited to street gangs but can also include other types of organized criminal groups.
Source 1: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) defines a gang as "a relatively durable, predominantly group of persons, united by a common identity, who engage in illegal activities and control a territory or trade in goods or services." Gangs are typically characterized by a hierarchical structure, with leaders who organize criminal activities and members who carry them out.
Source 2: According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a gang is "a group of three or more individuals who interact together and share a common identity, usually involving a specific geographic area or territory, and engage in criminal activity or violence." This definition highlights the social aspect of gangs, emphasizing their collective behavior and criminal involvement.
Combining these two definitions, we can understand a gang as a durable group of individuals who share a common identity, engage in illegal activities, and often control a specific territory or engage in organized crime. They can have a hierarchical structure and are involved in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, violence, and other illicit businesses.
To provide a definition for the concept of a "gang," I will reference two sources:
1. Source 1: Merriam-Webster Dictionary
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a gang is a group of individuals who associate together or act as a cohesive unit, often engaging in criminal activity and sharing a common identity or purpose. This definition emphasizes the criminal nature of gangs and their collective behavior.
2. Source 2: The U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Department of Justice defines a gang as a group of three or more individuals who share a common interest, bond, or purpose and engage in a pattern of criminal activity. This definition highlights the importance of criminal patterns and behavior in defining a gang.
By referring to these two sources, it is clear that a gang refers to a group of individuals who come together based on a shared interest, bond, or purpose and engage in criminal activities or exhibit patterns of criminal behavior.