Description
Gang Units
Respondents provided information regarding the operation of a gang unit in their agencies. “Gang unit” is defined in the survey as “a specialized unit with at least two officers primarily assigned to handle matters related to youth gangs.”
- Approximately four in ten law enforcement agencies with a gang problem operated a gang unit in 2006, including 54 percent of larger cities.
- With the exception of smaller cities, the percentage of agencies operating a gang unit increased yearly and was highest in 2006.
- In 2006, 31 percent of law enforcement agencies with a gang problem that did not operate a gang unit reported that one or more officers were assigned to handle gang problems exclusively.
Note: *A value for rural counties for 2011 is not presented because insufficient data was reported.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2006 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larger Cities | 51.4% | 51.2% | 53.9% | 54.2% |
| Suburban Counties | 24.4% | 27.0% | 32.5% | 34.8% |
| Smaller Cities | 14.0% | 17.8% | 13.5% | 16.7% |
| Rural Counties | 2.4% | 6.9% | 8.5% | **insufficient data reported** |
Analysis for this section pertains only to law enforcement agencies reporting gang problems. Please see the Prevalence of Gang Problems section.
Suggested citation: National Gang Center. National Youth Gang Survey Analysis. Retrieved [date] from https://nationalgangcenter.ojp.gov/survey-analysis.