Over the past several decades, there has been a continuous and growing focus on street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and domestic extremist groups. Many of these groups have members with military training, and some actively recruit from current and former military veterans and retirees. That military experience adds to the dangerousness of veteran gang members, as well as those groups they associate with. Communities everywhere are experiencing the damaging impact of gang criminal behavior. By observing gang activity from the Revolutionary War to today Smith examines the presence of military-trained, often veteran, gang members in the communities. He looks at the turning points in gang investigations in the military, and also looks at the laws and policies designed to specifically counter the criminal activity the threats of gang activity pose on a community. Grounded in current knowledge and research, Gangs and the Military successfully addresses the growing presence of criminal gang members in the United States. As well as reflects on how the authorities that counter and combat them are doing so on a national and global level.

Carter F. Smith, PhD, directs the Masters in Criminal Justice program at Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Smith is a retired U.S. Army special agent from the Criminal Investigation Division who has served over twenty-two years in military and federal law enforcement in the U.S. and abroad. An experienced educator since 1990, he has authored books such as Gangs and the Military (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019) and Gangs and Organized Crime (2018). Dr. Smith has been a consultant for various media outlets and appeared on the History Channel's documentary Gangland (2007). His expertise spans crime investigations, gang research, and security, earning him multiple industry accolades.