The Modulation of a Prime Suite: Study on Adolescents' Joining the Adult Gangs in Taiwan
Resource
臺大社會工作學刊, 15, 121-166
Journal
臺大社會工作學刊
Journal Issue
15
Pages
121-166
Date Issued
2007-10
Date
2007-10
Author(s)
Wu, C.O.
Yu, A.H.Y.
Abstract
The phenomenon of adolescents' joining the adult gangs has been a social concern in Taiwan. This study explores the young gangsters' experiential journey of organized crime from their perspectives. Based on the seniority, student status/or not, and role played in their gangs, eight adolescents from a reformatory in northern Taiwan have been sampled to proceed with in-depth interview on their background and experiences with the adult gangs. It is found that marital violence witness, school drop-out, being suffered from father-son tension as well as bad relationship on campus have been the crucial environmental factors to predict later adult gang membership. Furthermore, the interplay among personal motivation, characteristics, and circumstances contributes to an adolescent's becoming an adult gang member, taking order, and later leaving the gang. An adolescent's motivation of joining an adult gang and the following order taking will have impact on his status setting in the adult gang, and accordingly, the benefit as well as risk sharing to break the law. High income from illegal activities part-taking and the sense of accomplishment shape the young gangsters’ materialist life style and value system which push them even closer to the adult gangs. However, the damage caused by illegal assignment operation and gang fighting has been a threat to the adolescent gangsters. Their families usually do not know their gang status due to the adolescents' careful disguise. For those who decide to leave the adult gang, back to their families of origin or to have their own families is their hope. Their relationship with the adult gang leaders is based on mutual interest, while compliance with gang rules has been varied among adolescent members. They may voluntarily turn themselves in to the police just in order to cover for other adult gangsters due to the code of honor. And they usually have negative experiences with the police and justice system. All the adolescent inmates expect to have a refreshing start after being discharged from the reformatory.
Subjects
成人幫派
青少年
組織犯罪
輟學度
adolescent
adult gang
organized crime
school drop-out
SDGs
Type
journal article