Neighborhoods, violence, and guns: Unraveling the drivers of youth gun carrying in adjudicated populations

This study addresses a critical gap in the literature by exploring the dynamic interplay between neighborhood conditions and victimization experiences on gun carrying among adjudicated youth, an underexplored topic in longitudinal research. The goal of this study is to examine the independent and interdependent effects of neighborhood conditions and victimization experiences on gun carrying across time. Through the lens of social disorganization theory, analysis of 11 waves of data from the Pathways to Desistance project shows that while neighborhood physical and social disorder alone do not significantly predict gun carrying, the combination of these factors with exposure to violence does have a significant impact. Specifically, witnessing violence amplifies the likelihood of gun carrying, particularly in unsafe neighborhoods. These results highlight the importance of addressing both environmental and social factors in efforts to reduce gun carrying among youth.