A Better LA Lends Expertise to National Council on Crime and Delinquency

Our Executive Director will be participating as an Advisor to the NCCD’s Most Current Research Team convening on the topic of "Girls and Gangs: Improving our Understanding and Ability to Respond.” The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD), with funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, is initiating the largest quantitative research project on gang- involved girls to date. The two-year study will look at girls’ desistance from gang affiliation and gang involvement. NCCD is examining the individual, family, and community factors involved in girls’ desistance from gangs and gang-related crime. The project has six goals:

1) Identify the role of girls in gangs and their level of participation in gangs;
2) Identify the characteristics of gangs that allow for or encourage girls’ participation; Identify what inspires girls to leave gangs;
3) Identify common methods or strategies used by girls to leave gangs;
4) Identify protective factors that facilitate gang desistance; and
5) Provide service providers with useful information on girls’ ability to leave gangs.

We will have updates to article once findings of research have concluded. You may view more information about the National Council on Crime and Delinquency on their website.