Conclusion
Evidently, gangs can provide both psychological and financial security in an economic environment of scarcity and intense competition. Thus, in a broad sense, the rationale of subcultural theories of crime in this respect are as relevant now as they were 40 years ago. With the rapid rise in gangs and gang culture, subcultural theories of crime should bear even greater relevance but it is clear that contributions by theorists such as Cloward and Ohlin and Miller are seen to have flaws; eg. their 'curiously myopic quality' . Their work consists of primarily observational studies so they throw light on gang members for only the period of active gang membership (not the before and after) and therefore, offer limited information about the origins and consequences of gang membership.
Alternatives to the subcultural theories have been presented in the form of longitudinal panel studies such as the Rochester Youth Developmental Study. …
