The relationships among prior gang involvement, current gang involvement, and victimization among youth in residential placement

Abstract

This study examines patterns of victimization among youth in residential placement facilities using data from the Survey of Youth in Residential Placement. Findings indicate that gang involvement in residential placement is associated with multiple forms of victimization. However, desistance from gang membership resulted in rates of victimization among gang members that were no different from those of youth who had never been involved in gangs. These findings support prior research showing that gang involvement does not appear to serve as a protective function and further specifies the nature and contexts of the relationship between gang association and victimization.