The Second Edition of Curry and Decker's Confronting Gangs: Crime and Community integrates new sections on European gangs and prison gangs. In addition, it updates materials from the National Youth Gang Survey, adds a new section on female gangs, updates the section on field studies of gangs, identifies the maturation of gangs and gang members, and updates the section on gang interventions and gang policy by examining major federal and state initiatives on gangs. This book is designed for courses on gangs, delinquency, criminology, violence, social problems, juvenile justice, and criminal justice. Emphasizing community and neighborhood, Confronting Gangs weaves contemporary research and policy findings around classic and emerging theories of gangs. The book eases instruction by providing students with links between the gang literature and traditional criminological, criminal justice, and sociological approaches to gangs. The book integrates gang perspectives on many issues through the use of quotes from gang members themselves. These views from "inside the gang" bring the book to life. What better way to make the subject come alive for students? Confronting Gangs offers a specific focus on each of the following topics: * The number and nature of gangs * The link between gangs and delinquency * The role of drugs in contemporary gangs * Female gangs * Gangs and social institutions (such as the family, school, and job market)