Experts in sociology and criminal justice, law enforcement agencies, educators, journalists, and past and present gang members explore the history of gangs, the violent nature of modern gangs, the expanding identity of modern gangs, and the realities of life in a gang.

Introduction -- Chapter 1. History of gangs: 1. Early twentieth-century gang precursors / Lewis Yablonsky -- 2. The Impact of World War II on gangs / Eric C. Schneider -- 3. The Origins of Mexican American gangs / Ruben Martinez -- 4. African American street gangs in California / California Department of Justice -- Chapter 2. 1. Expanding identity of gangs: The Wide variety of gangs / Gang Crime Prevention Center -- 2. The Rise of girl gangs / Catherine Edwards -- 3. Prison gangs / Tiffany Danitz -- 4. Nontraditional gangs / Steven L. Sachs -- 5. Profile of a suburban gangster / Dan Korem -- Chapter 3. Life in a gang: 1. The Functions of gang violence / Alan McEvoy, Edsel Erickson, and Norman Randolph -- 2. Gangs in cyberspace / Karen Kaplan -- 3. The Changing look at gangsters / Michael Krikorian -- 4. Homegirl survival stories / Donna DeCesare -- 5. Caught between two cultures / Saroeum Phuong, as told to S. Beth Atkin -- Chapter 4. The Causes of gang involvement: 1. Gang membership can fulfill many adolescent needs / Francine Hallcom -- 2. Directionless teens are vulnerable to gang recruitment / Steven L. Sachs -- 3. Adult absence can lead teens to join gangs / Mike Clements -- 4. The emotional problems of gang members / Lewis Yablonsky -- 5. Why girls join gangs / Paul Palango -- Chapter 5. Measures to reduce and prevent gang activity: 1. Government efforts in gang prevention / Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention -- 2. Job-skills training for gang members / Carol Ann Morrow -- 3. Street intervention / Alona Wartofsky -- 4. Mothers against gangs / Laura Laughlin -- 5. Intervention methods for gang girls: special considerations / Mark S. Fleisher -- Organizations to contact.