Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: Gang Prevention from a Top-Down Perspective

Abigail F. Kolb (), William J. Kolb and Michael Favors
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Abigail F. Kolb: Department of Civic Engagement and Public Service, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA
William J. Kolb: Department of Civic Engagement and Public Service, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA
Michael Favors: Department of Civic Engagement and Public Service, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: This paper presents a top-down approach to gang prevention, emphasizing the importance of addressing the complex structural conditions that accumulate to foster gang activity. In the title, we use the metaphor of “smoke” to represent the underlying structural conditions that are often overlooked or ignored, while “fire” symbolizes the resulting consequences of this neglect—specifically, gangs and gang violence. The authors argue that factors such as poverty, poor education, and racialized housing policies have created environments conducive to gang membership and violence. These structural inequities not only create fertile ground for gang activity but also trickle down to affect communities, as well as youth on an individual level, leading to trauma, multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and, in some cases, long-term offending. This paper also underscores the importance of addressing individual agency as well as recognizing that empowering youths to make choices outside of the constraints imposed by their environments is crucial for effective prevention. By examining broader structural issues, this paper highlights the need for comprehensive solutions that go beyond grassroots efforts. We critique current legislative measures and propose that effective gang prevention must tackle the root causes embedded in America’s socio-economic and political systems, as most gang prevention programs fail to address the institutional frameworks that contribute to individuals’ propensity to join, leave, or remain in gangs.

Keywords: gang prevention; social structure and gangs; gang membership; gangs and risk factors; gangs and social problems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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