Gang-related homicides are on the decline, despite increases in the total number of gangs and gang members from 2010-2011, according to The Crime Report.
The federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) published Highlights of the 2011 National Youth Gang Survey from local law enforcement agencies’ data.
In 2011, there were an estimated 29,900 gangs, a three-percent increase from the previous year’s estimate of 29,000. The number of gang members rose 3.4 percent to 782,500.
Gun activity was concentrated primarily in urban areas – about 87 percent of the 1,824 gang-related homicides reported in 2011 were in cities. In 2010, there were 2,020 gang-related homicides reported nationwide.