Gangs as an Infectious Disease

Abstract

we applied the infectious disease model to describe the prevalence of criminal gangs through the population and to suggest some strategies to eliminate gangs from the population. The population was divided into four groups that vary in propensity to turn into a gang member. The prevalence was modeled over time by using a system of non-linear differential equations and some parameters which describe the interaction between gangs and the population. The approach used to reduce or remove gangs involves strategies such as prevention, interference and suppression. The model showed the impact on gang growth by changing crime fighting strategies