Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Gang Membership for Adult Functioning
Research has consistently shown that gang membership has proximal adverse consequences during adolescence that, in turn, lead to significant social and economic costs. Active gang members are much more likely than their nongang peers to engage in criminal behavior, especially serious and violent offending; in addition, they are more likely to be involved in drug use and selling,5 have more difficulties in school, and are more likely to be violently victimized.3 However, with few exceptions, there is scant research on possible broader, long-term public health consequences of gang membership. Levitt and Vankatesh,8 in a 10-year follow up of a sample of Chicago youths, found that those who reported being in a gang during adolescence were more likely to be arrested and incarcerated as adults, were more likely to rely on illegal income, and had obtained less formal education than their nongang peers. When they controlled for background characteristics such as home environment and early school performance, only the relationship between...