I believe that an important theme in the Gangs in America book is the idea of defining gangs. The question arises as to whether or not we need to define gangs, and if we do how do we go abuot doing this? Huff describes the differences in definitions that affect the gang problem as seen in different areas. Later in the book Hagedorn urges the studying of gangs, but has a problem with the courthouse studies that rely on statistics and numbers rather than experience with the gangs and individual members. Received on Thu Feb 06 1992 - 20:23:00 CET
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