GANGS - A Guide to Understanding Street Gangs [Paperback]

L. Valdez (Author), Al Valdez (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Sunbelt Pubns; 2 edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915905620
• ISBN-13: 978-0915905621
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,821,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From an Ex-Gang Member, May 5, 2000

By 

Jorge (Westminister, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GANGS - A Guide to Understanding Street Gangs (Paperback)

I am an ex-gang member and I have read this book, written by Al Valdez. Before I write about the contents of the book, I would like to say something about the author. Al Valdez along with his special target gang unit were harassing me for a long time in the neighborhood, but to my surprise the target unit wasn't about putting me in jail, but giving me a chance to escape. Thanks to the motivation of this man and his special unit, I have been able to leave the gangs and create a new start on life. The book was extremely well written and is true in all of its aspects. I recommend this book to all parents who are struggling to comprehend their child's decision to live on the wild side. I recommend this book to teachers who are not coming from the surrounding community in which they teach and who are attempting to understand the life styles and decisions of their pupils. Finally, I recommend this book to law enforcement agents and large companies in order for them to better work with the community and to better comprehend the people they are working for and with.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If I had to choose one book on gangs this is it!, November 14, 2000

By 

GA Comp. Forensic Inv. (Dalton, Ga. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GANGS: A Guide to Understanding Street Gangs (3rd Ed.) (Paperback)

Outstanding!! I have read several text on gangs in my 18 years of law enforcement experience, this one is the best one yet. The book is not only informative but easy to follow and entertaining as well. Mr. Valdez covers the history and main identifiers of basically every major gang in this country. If you know nothing about gangs, this is an excellent book for a beginner. If you thank you know all there is to know about gangs, read this book and learn how much more there is to know.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars criminal justice professor, July 2, 2001

By 

Russell A. Hunt (dodge city, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GANGS: A Guide to Understanding Street Gangs (3rd Ed.) (Paperback)

This is a great book! Al Valdez has done an excellent job of summarizes the existing gang information avaliable. It is an easy to read book, that is valuable to law enforcers, educators, students, or interested citizens

Detective Valdez has also included gangs that are generally not covered in other similar books. He writes about occult gangs, and militias.

I highly recommend this to anyone intersted in learning more about gangs in the U.S.