Beschreibung:
This survey extended a 1992 survey (NATIONAL ASSESSMENT SURVEY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ANTI-GANG INFORMATION RESOURCES, 1990-1992 [ICPSR 6237]) in two ways: (1) by updating the information on the 122 municipalities included in the 1992 survey, and (2) by including data on all cities in the United States ranging in population from 150,000 to 200,000 and including a random sample of 284 municipalities ranging in population from 25,000 to 150,000. Gang crime problems were defined in the same manner as in the 1992 survey, i.e., a gang (1) was identified by the police as a "gang," (2) participated in criminal activity, and (3) involved youth in its membership. As in the 1992 survey, a letter was sent to the senior law enforcement departmental administrator of each agency describing the nature of the survey. For jurisdictions included in the 1992 survey, the letter listed the specific information that had been provided in the 1992 survey and identified the departmental representative who provided the 1992 data. The senior law enforcement administrator was asked to report whether a gang crime problem existed within the jurisdiction in 1994. If a problem was reported, the administrator was asked to identify a representative of the department to provide gang crime statistics and a representative who was most knowledgeable on anti-gang field operations. Annual statistics on gang-related crime were then solicited from the departmental statistical representative. Variables include city, state, ZIP code, and population category of the police department, and whether the department reported a gang problem in 1994. Data on the number of gangs, gang members, and gang-related incidents reported by the police department are also provided. If actual numbers were not provided by the police department, estimates of the number of gangs, gang members, and gang-related incidents were calculated by sampling category.