Desistance Within an Urban Aboriginal Gang.

Source: (2007) 54(2): 125–141.

The research presented in this paper is related to an ongoing program
in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada involving members of an urban Aboriginal street
gang. Gang members recently released from prison have for a variety of reasons
become interested in leaving behind the criminal part of their gang involvement,
and developing lifestyles less likely to bring them into conflict with the law. For the
men in this study, desistance from crime did not necessarily mean a departure
from the gang itself. Rather, they see themselves as having taken a conscious
decision not to be involved in criminal activity, but not to leave the gang. The
scheme works with them on learning carpentry skills as part of an urban housing
renovation project. A major part of the program is the encouragement of prosocial
values through traditional Aboriginal cultural teachings. Use of the ‘gang’
ethic builds teamwork and commitment not to reoffend among members. (author’s abstract)