Friendly foes: Hybrid gangs or social networking. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bolden, Christian L.
• Other Names: Wood Jane L. guest-editor.; Giles Howard guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Group processes and intergroup relations. Volume 17:Number 6(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 730
• Page End: 749
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: criminal relationships -- gangs -- hybrid gangs -- social networks; Intergroup relations -- Periodicals; Social groups -- Periodicals; 302.305
• DOI: 10.1177/1368430214548284
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4302

Abstract

Hybrid gangs have been identified as having organizational processes that differ from traditional gangs. This study comparatively examines structural processes and characteristics of gangs in a chronic gang city, San Antonio, and an emerging gang city that would be more likely to have "hybrid" gangs, Orlando. A limited number of recent studies have indicated that some gangs may better fit into a social network framework, which calls into question presumptions about hybrid gangs. In this analysis, cooperation between gang members from rival gangs is examined through a social network lens, and findings indicate that such cooperation is a normalized process in the gang landscape.