Gangs in South Carolina

GANGS & CRIME IN SC:
HOW MUCH, HOW BAD?
BJS/JRSA Conference
St. Louis, MO
October 22, 2009

Why were we concerned about
gangs in South Carolina?
• Gangs are often considered more of an
urban problem.
• SC is small, only 3 urban centers.
But…..
• USC survey - law enforcement reported
widespread gang activity.
• High levels of publicity and civic concern
in recent years.

Data Sources
• SCIBRS - state level NIBRS data
• Corrections – inmate records
• Community Corrections – offender
records.
• Dept. of Juvenile Justice – intake
screening form.

Who is committing gang related
violence?
• Mean age 19.5, Median age 17
• Highest rate among 15 – 16 year olds
• 85% male
• 69% African-American
American
• Hispanics under-represented
represented

Who are inmate gang
members?
• Demographically, similar to SCIBRS
profile: disproportionately young, male
and minority.
• Gang members were more often convicted
of violent offenses.
• Gang members were less often drug
offenders.

What about gang members
under community corrections?
• Disproportionately young, male and
minority.
• 23% had a drug offense as the most
serious conviction offense.

Geographically, gang indicators
provide a mixed picture.
• Gang violence - highest rates in rural
counties.
• SCDC – inmates come from rural and
suburban counties.
• Community Corrections – followed
population patterns.

Who are the victims of gang
violence?
• Similar demographically to offenders;
predominately young, male, minority.
• 75% knew the offender.
• 58% were casual acquaintances of the
offender.

Gang violence increased rapidly
over 10 year period.
1.0%
0.9%
0.8%
0.7%
0.6%
0.5%
0.4%
0.3%
0.2%
0.1%
0.0%
98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07

However, if you look at it within the
context of overall violence:
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07

So putting gang violence into
the proper context:
• Despite a dramatic increase, gang crime
still accounted for less than 1% of
reported criminal violence in 2007.
• Violent crime decreased 13.5% statewide
during the same time period.

Inmate gang membership has
increased.
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
Fiscal Year

Once again, putting the increase
into context
SCDC Inmates - FY 08
95.4%
4.6%
Gang
Not Gang

Gangs in Community
Corrections
• Historical data not available to determine
growth trend.
• 2.9% of community corrections clients
were identified as gang members.

Still, there are two areas of
serious concern:
• The increase in gang related murders
over 10 year period.
• The comparatively high level of
firearm involvement in gang violence.

There were 21 gang murders in
2007.
21
7
5
4
5
0
2
1
2
1
98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
YEAR

Firearm involvement was more
likely in gang violence.
Ag. Assault
21.8%
45.3%
Robbery
53.5%
60.8%
Murder
53.5%
90.0%
Gang
Non-Gang

So what does all this tell us?
• Gang violence is not a major contributor
to overall violence.
• Gang murder could become a major
factor.
• Gang violence often involves guns.
• A core of known gang members can be
found in prison and under supervision.

Implications for Future Research
• Definition of gang
• Re-entry entry issues for gang members
• Lack of qualitative research
• Need to monitor gang violence, especially
murder.

QUESTIONS?
• Report can be viewed at:
http://www.scdps.org/ojp/statistics.asp
• Email questions or concerns to:
robertmcmanus@scdps.net