Chinatown Gangs: Extortion, Enterprise, And Ethnicity (studies In Crime And Public Policy)
by Ko-lin Chin /
1996 / English / PDF
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In
InChinatown Gangs
Chinatown Gangs, Ko-lin Chin penetrates a closed
society and presents a rare portrait of the underworld of New York
City's Chinatown. Based on first-hand accounts from gang members,
gang victims, community leaders, and law enforcement authorities,
this pioneering study reveals the pervasiveness, the muscle, the
longevity, and the institutionalization of Chinatown gangs. Chin
reveals the fear gangs instill in the Chinese community. At the
same time, he shows how the economic viability of the community is
sapped, and how gangs encourage lawlessness, making a mockery of
law enforcement agencies.
, Ko-lin Chin penetrates a closed
society and presents a rare portrait of the underworld of New York
City's Chinatown. Based on first-hand accounts from gang members,
gang victims, community leaders, and law enforcement authorities,
this pioneering study reveals the pervasiveness, the muscle, the
longevity, and the institutionalization of Chinatown gangs. Chin
reveals the fear gangs instill in the Chinese community. At the
same time, he shows how the economic viability of the community is
sapped, and how gangs encourage lawlessness, making a mockery of
law enforcement agencies.
Ko-lin Chin makes clear that gang crime is inexorably linked to
Chinatown's political economy and social history. He shows how
gangs are formed to become "equalizers" within a social environment
where individual and group conflicts, whether social, political, or
economic, are unlikely to be solved in American courts. Moreover,
Chin argues that Chinatown's informal economy provides yet another
opportunity for street gangs to become "providers" or "protectors"
of illegal services. These gangs, therefore, are the pathological
manifestation of a closed community, one whose problems are not
easily seen--and less easily understood--by outsiders.
Ko-lin Chin makes clear that gang crime is inexorably linked to
Chinatown's political economy and social history. He shows how
gangs are formed to become "equalizers" within a social environment
where individual and group conflicts, whether social, political, or
economic, are unlikely to be solved in American courts. Moreover,
Chin argues that Chinatown's informal economy provides yet another
opportunity for street gangs to become "providers" or "protectors"
of illegal services. These gangs, therefore, are the pathological
manifestation of a closed community, one whose problems are not
easily seen--and less easily understood--by outsiders.
Chin's concrete data on gang characteristics, activities, methods
of operation and violence make him uniquely qualified to propose
ways to restrain gang violence, and
Chin's concrete data on gang characteristics, activities, methods
of operation and violence make him uniquely qualified to propose
ways to restrain gang violence, andChinatown Gangs
Chinatown Gangs closes
with his specific policy suggestions. It is the definitive study of
gangs in an American Chinatown.
closes
with his specific policy suggestions. It is the definitive study of
gangs in an American Chinatown.