Legal, Ethical and Clinical Implications of Doing Field Work with Youth Gang Members Who Engage in Serious Violence

Abstract This paper reports on dilemmas encountered when doing ethnographic research with youth gang members involved in serious crime. These acts often endanger the lives of others. 1 It is based upon a qualitative study of how 30 gang members aged 12 -17 years accounted for their physical, sexual and emotional violence against girlfriends, gays, and racial minorities. These types of dilemmas were successfully dealt with, to the benefit of participants and victims. Instead of avoiding this kind of field work, researchers must continue to explore these issues and get proper training prior to commencing research.