Ethnic Identity and Offending

Trajectories Among Mexican

American Juvenile Offenders:
Gang Membership and
Psychosocial Maturity
By: Alex & Sarah

George P. Knight, Sandra H. Losoya, Young Il Cho, and Laurie Chassin

Young Il Cho, and Laurie Chassin Arizona State University
Joanna Lee Williams
Sonia Cota-Robles

Definition of a Gang
An organized group of criminals
Some examples:

Crips and Bloods

Klu Klux Klan
Mexican Mafia
Latin Kings

Facts
86% of US cities with a population of 100,000
or more report gang activity
According to the FBI in 2011, there were
33,000 violent street, motorcycle, and prison
gangs active in the U.S., with more than 1.4
million members (a 40% increase from 2009).
Gangs can be organized based upon race,
ethnicity, territory, or money-making activities,
and are generally made up of members ages 8
to 22.
Members of gangs wear specific articles of
clothing to be recognized as part of the group
such as bandanas, hats, scarves of certain
colors, or gang-related tattoos or symbols.

Purpose/ Hypothesis
To examine the correlation
between ethinc identity and
criminal history.

Given our sample of adolescent offenders and the findings

discussed above, we hypothesize that several normative
developmental and contextual factors (trajectories of
psychosocial maturity, gang membership, and Mexican
American affiliation) will be related to the joint trajectories of
ethnic identity and offending (using the types of analyses
suggested by Gonzales et al., 2009; Kuperminc et al., 2009;
and Uman a-Taylor & Alfaro, 2009).

Participants
Took place in the Phoenix, Arizona
Interviews (field stud) were done in
only English
300 people, between 14-17
(m=15.44)
All were Mexican-American males
60% were from single parents
home
40% parents didnt graduate from

Participants
All the participants had criminal
records

40% violent crimes

30.4% property crimes
13.5% drug crimes
11.2% weapon crimes
2.4% sex crimes
2% misc

Methods
Participants were recruited based
on court files.
Interviews were conducted with
the help of computers, in homes
and public facilities (libraries)
Participants completed
assessments 75 days after juvenile
adjudication (90 if charged as an
adult)

Method
The every six months for 3 years
Then annually for four years.
For a total of 7 years
Participants were paid $50 at the
start and $150 at the last
assessment
Retention rate was 91-94%
throughout the assessment period

Method
86.3% completed the last
assessment
The test measured:

Ethnic identity
Offending
Gang membership
Psychosocial maturity
Mex

Results
Psychosocial maturity increased
with age but the older they got
slower rate the maturity increased.
Gang membership decreased with
age and the older particpants got
the faster the decrease was.

Results
Ethnic Identity was stable
throughout the testing period.
There were significant variables for
all parts measured

Results
Because of the amount of variables
given in the study. A direct
relationship between ethnic identity,
criminal history and gang
membership.
However the particpants who
committed more serious crimes
were more likely to become gang
members at age 15.

Validity & Errors 8/10

The method was very clear
However the hypothesis and results not so
much
Tests were only in English
Longitudinal study may have affected results
SRS also may have affected results,
participants may have been afraid to admit to
committing a crime.
Could have been more representative vs
convenient
Could have excluded more races

Validity & Errors 8/10

This could have been replicated
Appears to be no bias.

Questions?