These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.Prior to 1996, surveys pertaining to youth gangs in the United States were conducted infrequently, and methodology and samples had been inconsistent. No single source of data pertaining to the nature, size, and scope of youth gangs existed. From 1996 through 2012, the National Youth Gang Survey (NYGS) collected data annually from a large, representative sample of local law enforcement agencies to track the span and seriousness of gang activity nationwide. The NYGS collected data from a sample of the universe of law enforcement agencies in the United States from which data can be extrapolated to determine the scope of youth gangs nationally.This collection includes one SPSS data file "1996-2001_cleaned_for_NACJD.sav" with 330 variables and 3,018 cases.