EVALUATING A SCHOOL-BASED GANG-PREVENTION PROGRAM - A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE

Theory-based evaluations of gang intervention and prevention programs an rare. In this article we argue that the Gang Resistance Education a nd Training program as developed by the Phoenix Arizona, Police Depart ment and the U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, consists of pedagogical elements with strong conceptual and operational ties to tw o mainstream criminological theories, social learning theory and self- control theory. Moreover; we provide a model that, with a little help from opportunity theory, integrates the two theories so as to take adv antage of each other's conceptual richness. Finally, we address the im plications for both criminological theory and anti-gang policies and p ractices.