Citation

Defleur LB. J. Res. Crime Delinq. 1967; 4(1): 132-141.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1967, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/002242786700400109

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As part of a larger study, sixty-three "hard-core" juvenile offenders were interviewed in Cordoba, Argentina, concerning the nature and characteristics of their gangs. The delinquents discussed their activities quite freely. These gangs were relatively small; many did not have a clearly established leader; and membership was generally open to any boy who was vouched for and who engaged in the group's activities. The gangs supported subcultures which included deviant activities, argots, strong interests in sports, and fighting with boys from other neighbor hoods. The most frequent lawbreaking activity was theft. Most stolen items were used or sold and the proceeds were spent on movies, drinking, and girls. This pattern can be called the instrumental-theft subculture. In comparison with U.S. delin quent subcultures it was found that: Cordoba's gangs did not engage in vandalism or stealing for nonutilitarian reasons. There was little contact with adult criminals. Fighting was only one of many gang activities and conflict was not an end in itself. Drug use was virtually absent. In short, the theoretical formulations developed in the United States by American students of delin quency do not seem to describe the gangs under study.