Chapter 4 Gangs

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Gangs It is difficult to assess the number of gangs in the U.S. Estimates range from 240,000 to 580,000 gang members and 9,000 to 16,643 gangs.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. 2 Problems with Gangs 1) Random Violence 2) Elected officials at the state and federal levels seem to be unwilling, or unable, to address the real issues that have brought about the formation of gangs.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Why Young People Join Gangs Lack of Controls Permissive Environment Presence of Criminals with High Status Continuous Association with Members Family Substitutes Lack of Legitimate Opportunities Poverty Dysfunctional Families Need for Self-Esteem Sense of Belonging Pressure from Friends Protection Family Influence Ability To Commit Illegal Acts for Financial Gain

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Modern Gang The modern gang can trace origins to the Federal Aid Highway Transportation Act in 1950s. Middle class moved out of the cities, which left a void in urban areas. Transition in urban areas was from a manufacturing economy to a service- oriented economy. The vacuum of good quality jobs was filled by gangs. In the early 1980s crack cocaine emerged as a cheap and profitable source of income for gangs.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Gang Typology The definition of a gang is varied

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Following 4 Components Must Be Present in Gang Definition: 1) A group of 2 or more 2) Group members must be in regular contact and identify with each other and identify themselves as a gang or organization. 3) Group members must subscribe to a code of conduct and use certain colors, signs, and signals for identification. 4) Activities must revolve around illegal behavior.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Klein (1968)—Gang refers to any group of youngsters who: 1) Are generally perceived as a distinct aggregation by others in their neighborhood 2) Recognize themselves as a denotable group 3) Have been involved in a sufficient number of delinquent incidents to call for a consistent negative response from neighborhood residents and/or enforcement agencies

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. California Youth Gang Task Force delineates the Factors: 1) Subject admits being a member of a gang. 2) Subject has tattoos, clothing, etc., that are only associated with certain gangs. 3) Subject has been arrested while participating in activities with known gang members. 4) Information places the subject with a gang has been obtained from a reliable informant. 5) Close association with know gang members has been confirmed.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. 2 Groups of Street Gangs People West Coast Blood Gangs Folks West Coast Crips Gangs

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Gangs & the American Dream The American Dream assumes a capitalist society where there is an attraction to monetary rewards. The stimulation of crime derives largely from the content of the American Dream. The pursuit of the American Dream contributes to gang involvement by de- emphasizing the relevance of institutional influences other than the economy.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Poverty and Gangs Street gangs thrive where poverty and normlessness exist. In million American’s (14% of population) lived in poverty. The flight of upwardly mobile minorities left a vacuum waiting to be filled and gangs moved into the vacuum and filled the void.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Gang Research 1990’s National Gang Crime Research Center found: The gang appears to function much like a union guild. Gangs operate a wide variety of cash business enterprises. Gang members pay dues, which flow upward to the leadership. Organizationally sophisticated gangs have a number of economic functions. Gangs serve a welfare function in that they provide welfare payments for members who are in jail.

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. A Survey of Jail Inmates Found: Gang members believe in the same culturally acceptable goals as the rest of society. Collecting protection money on behalf of the gang Parents of gang members are usually described as being employed. Family structure Number of close friends/associates who are gang members Mean age when first entered a gang is 12.9 Reasons for joining a gang Operation of legitimate businesses

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. A Survey of Jail Inmates Found, cont’d. Older gang members manage the gangs. Working as a runner in a retail drug operation Committing crimes of financial gain with the gang Views on work Views on racial oppression and poverty Family economic backgrounds of gang members Regular employment and losing a job Gangs serve a welfare function. Extortion of protection money from small businesses

Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Female Gangs 10% of gang membership is female. Female gangs commit fewer violent offenses than their male counterparts. Females join gangs for: Friendship Solidarity Self-affirmation Sense of new possibilities