JUVENILE GANGS Laura Kallus panZOu project

What is a Gang? “A formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consists of three or more persons who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors or symbols and have two or more members who, individually or collectively, engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity.” (1)

Gangs in the US An estimated 24,500 gangs exist in the US 772, 500 active gang members Mostly males ages Cities with emerging gang problems report more females and more mixed race/ethnic groups than those with long term gang problems –2000 Youth Gang Survey

Characteristics of Hispanic Gangs Generally modeled after LA gangs Loosely organized Turf oriented Graffiti Colors Hand signs Characteristics of Florida Gangs

Graffiti

Getting In Jumped in –“Everybody sets the rules: not to hit in the face and to wrestle. The 1 st person on the ground –that was it. You don’t continue fighting.” Sexed In –“Back in the day, the leader used to do the girls when they tried to get in the gang. Sometimes, let’s say you at a skipping party and there’s only 2 girls trying to get in, all of them [the boys] will do it. If it’s like 4 guys, all of them will do it.”

Why join? What are the pressures that push youth towards gangs? What does a gang have to offer our youth? What important needs are being met through gang membership?

When does it start?

What are the pressures that push youth towards gangs? Community, School Family, Peer Individual

Impoverished Communities Chronic unemployment or underemployment Drugs and weapons easily available Gangs, Crime and violence become “normalized” Institutionalized prejudice/racism

Family Stress Unstable/broken home Economic instability Low educational attainment & expectations Alcoholism/drug abuse Family members in gang Parent/sibling criminality Neglect Violence –Verbal, physical, sexual abuse “I never get along with my father…he used to beat my mom, you know. And I didn't like that stuff and I used to fight with my dad too. I used to fight him too when I seen my mom fighting with him. When I was real skinny and tiny he used to grab me from my throat and put me down on the floor like nothing...like a piece of trash”. - Cristopher

Impoverished Schools Under-funded, under-staffed, under- resourced Disorganized Limited enrichment courses Zero-tolerance policy

Developmental Theory of Gang Membership Community, Family, Individual, School, Peer Domains Preschool –Aggression, defiance School entry –Aggression, defiance, conduct disorder, negative early school experience, lack of pro-social peer group Adolescence –Low educational achievement, lack of school bonding, aggression, defiance, violence, delinquency, gang membership

What does the gang offer? Escape: “Problems at home” Power: ” Nobody touch you” Respect: “You don’t be scared of nobody” Protection Fame Money: “I used to poor, real poor. I used to be wanting to have the money because when you be having the money people be respecting you.” Fun: “You chill with all your friends, go to parties, you got a rack of girls” Girls

What needs are met by gang membership? A sense of belonging and commitment The need for unique/special identity –collective identity/group membership –individual identity Love and acceptance Structure Esteem and self worth Empowerment Status Support Recognition “So I said, ‘what the hell, I’m in the street. I ain’t doing shit. I ain’t worth shit. Let me change my life around’...So I started selling that crazy shit [cocaine]. Then I got more into the gangs because then I had money, clothes. I became a member of La Raza. I was the man then…nice clothes, nice perfume, Versace and shit”. - Chino

Profile of a Gang Member Apathetic/Fatalistic Limited education Criminal past Substance use No work history Teenage parent Weak family bonds/support Tattooed Dialogue/mannerisms

Strategies appropriate for developmental stages Window of opportunity – ages 7-14 –FFT, MST, Strengthening Families Program –Intensive case management –Academic enrichment/tutoring –Mentoring –Pro-social peer groups – recreation, skill building

Strategies appropriate for developmental stages Ages – Patience and Tenacity Street outreach & intensive case management that is long term & consistent Multidisciplinary Intervention Team Opportunities provision – Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Outreach Street Outreach Case management Court Mediation Crisis response Community service Referrals

Multidisciplinary Intervention Team Outreach Worker & Intervention Specialist Juvenile Probation Officers Trust Counselor - NMB Senior High Asst. Principal - JFK Middle NMB Police Dept - Gang Unit Dept. Children & Families GUESS Program Case Managers Dade School Police

Online Resources National Youth Gang Center National Gang Crime Resource Center National Alliance of Gang Investigators Association Florida Gang Investigator Association Gangs Or Us The Coroner's Report