From the Publisher
“In Gangs and Spirituality, Ross Deuchar traverses three continents and great disciplinary divides to arrive at conclusions about masculinities and crime or religion and criminal justice that provoke thought, emotion, and, hopefully, action. Academic writing with this much humanity and practical significance is rare. Featuring the voices of gang members in their own words and powerful stories of redemption, Gangs and Spirituality is a first-rate book; a must-read for anyone involved in gang research or interested in desistance from crime.” (James Densley, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Metropolitan State University, USA)
“Ross Deuchar brings us inside the lives of marginalized men across the globe who turn to gang violence to achieve masculine identity. In a heartening way, he teaches us that hopeful endings are possible. He chronicles how support and spirituality provide these otherwise lost souls with a pathway to desistance and a meaningful future. This is an important book, with valuable insights for scholars interested in, among other areas, theory, life-course criminology, gender, violence, and corrections.” (Francis T. Cullen, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, University of Cincinnati, USA)
“The publication of Ross Deuchar’s Gangs and Spirituality: Global Perspectives marks an important milestone in gang research. It unites a focus on spirituality, religiosity and religion in the study of gang members … This work should re-focus attention on spiritual beliefs and their power to change lives.” (Scott H. Decker, Foundation Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Faculty Affiliate in the Center on the Future of War)