Legitimized oppression through “justice”: examining the lived experiences of East and West Coast gang members

Drawing from critical ethnography and semi-structured interviews with sixteen Black and Latino male gang members from the West and East Coasts, this study examines participants' lived experiences in gangs. Using thematic analysis, findings highlight experiences with gang violence, perceptions of gangs and inequality, and encounters with the criminal justice system. This study introduces the theory of Legitimized Justice Oppression (LJO), which posits that the criminal justice system legitimizes harsh, discriminatory responses by targeting stigmatized communities under the guise of public safety, thereby reinforcing systemic inequalities. The study emphasizes the need for policies addressing poverty, strengthening social institutions, and moving beyond punitive law enforcement toward comprehensive, community-centered approaches.