The causal relationship between gang joining and violent victimization: A critical review and directions for future research

PurposeThis article provides a critical review of the state of research on the gang membership-violent victimization relationship.MethodsThis study examines a comprehensive list of published quantitative studies that have assessed the relationship between gang membership and violent victimization.ResultsBy examining strengths and weaknesses of the design features of various studies, this article identifies theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and statistical issues that should be considered when interpreting the causal effect of gang membership on violent victimization. Some of the methodological and design issues discussed include, but are not limited to, consequences of failing to establish temporal order, failure to conduct sensitivity analyses to determine treatment effects, use of bootstrapping methods with propensity score analysis, measurement of violent victimization, and corrections for dependence in matched samples of gang and non-gang members.ConclusionSuggestions for future research are provided that will help advance the empirical study of the gang membership-violent victimization nexus.

► A causal effect of gang membership on violent victimization was not confirmed.
► Methodological problems of studies on gangs and victimization were discussed.
► Several directions for future research were identified.