The Violent Gang

A newly revised and expanded edition of Dr. Lewis Yablonsky's classic study of violent urban gangs. Drawing on live research gathered while he was director of community crime-prevention program Yablonsky traces the natural history of two infamous New York City gangs. In their own words gang members tell why they murdered a fifteen-year-old polio victim and describe patterns of gang organization leadership alliances warfare and violence. Yablonsky also discusses programs for dealing with such groups and offers a new plan for gang control.<p>In his introduction to his new edition Dr. Yablonsky outlines significant parallels between the activities of teen-age gangs and the rebellious behavior of many of today's young people. There is also a new and vital chapter in the patters of violence that plague contemporary society.<p>... a model of powerful and incisive writing in the field of sociology.... An important and immensely useful work.<br>- Los Angeles Times