The problem with 'the problem with gangs': Reflections on practice and offender desistance

Abstract

Gang membership is considered to be a criminogenic factor that negatively impacts an individual’s ability to successfully desist from offending and presents special management challenges across Corrections’ service delivery. Despite the durability of gangs in New Zealand, these groups are poorly defined with little known about disengagement processes that may inform broader criminal desistance pathways. This paper argues that a theory of gangs is a necessary step to inform constructive and sustainable behaviour change practices. A transitional perspective of gang-centred lifestyles is proposed as a starting point to considering efficacious intervention efforts with offenders who identify with these complex and challenging groups.