The Sibling Influence on Gang Membership among the Samoan Communities of Carson and Long Beach, CA

Abstract

This project involves direct and indirect social influences that gang members in Carson and Long Beach, CA have on their siblings’ decision to join or avoid gangs. It draws upon confidential interviews with individuals currently in a gang, were once in a gang but not currently in it, or are not in a gang but have a brother affiliated with a gang. Upon analyzing the interviews, it is understood that the choice to join a gang is a mixture of sibling influence and personal decision.