Gang Violence Colleen Garland Kaplan University Abstract Gangs can be defined as a group of people who collect together to take part in delinquent and criminal behavior. Gangs and gang activity are flourishing not only in this country, but internationally as well. This essay will briefly discuss three forms of antisocial, or violent behavior that gang members partake in- property delinquency, violent delinquency, and drug delinquency. This essay will also touch upon some proactive solutions that the government is trying to implement to reduce gang activity. Gangs are defined as an organized group of people, generally between the ages of 12-24, who come together in order to engage in criminal activity (Siegel, 2013, p. 215).
Gangs function with the methodology of creating strategic allies that will help them further their own destructive agendas. Prison gangs have been around since the late 50’s and 60’s mainly for the reason of inmate security. Security became an increasing concern as the violence escalated in the prison systems. In reaction, groups became to form largely on the basis of race and creed. You have the Aryan Brotherhood or “AB” which consists almost
Gangs are usually identified as a group of (mostly young) people within their own cultural norms either by race, symbols, clothing or affiliation. They organise their lives in the streets, and claim a territory where they usually engage in criminal behaviours. How the public view gangs is based by the media and law enforcement who typically defines crime as an organized act. (UIC.EDU 2013) NZ police regard gangs as organized crime and defines it as “a continuing association of persons having as its object, or as one of its objects, the acquisition of substantial income or assets by means of a continuing course of criminal conduct”(NZ POLICE, 2013) this means that involvement to a gang is often tied to criminal activities. However this, does not mean that being in a gang automatically means that you are a criminal.
Death, arson, theft, and trapping individuals on islands are things that Al Capone and Black Beard had in common. Al Capone and Black Beard grew up in different areas and were born in different time periods. Many people would probably consider them one in the same, with a little reading and research you would learn different. It is easier to find the difference between the two. With the two criminals being from different areas of the world and born in different eras, it has a large effect on the style of their corrupt actions.
The extent of gangs/drugs A proliferation in gangs will also mean a growth in drug and violence in our community’s and threatening society in general. There are more than 731,000 active gang members in the United States, most of which are active with drug distribution. Gangs will and have shown themselves notorious and without regard to society and family. Street gangs employ violence to control drug activities and even targeting local businesses with extortion. Violence ensures that members adhere to the gang’s code of conduct.
Although today they are more organized, they are still very violent and will do in some cases whatever it takes to maintain their freedom and get the job done (Lyman, M. D., & Potter, G. W., 2007). My perception of organized criminals in comparison are similar for the simple fact that most groups these days do however choose to form rival mobs, or gangs if you will just to conduct their criminal activities under the radar. They use the creation of a business or gathering of an organization which is thought to perform legal operations while secretly conducting illegal operations. Some of these illegal operations may involve the transactions of drugs, money, or even
Final Project: The Gang Violence Problem Final Project: The Gang Violence Problem Gangs are found across the globe these days and almost everywhere they are associated with various crimes. While this happens in all types of neighborhoods, inner cities seem to be the most effected. Violence is a part of many gang activities and a good number of them demand that a new initiative to the gang must commit a violent crime to prove them worthy of membership. Michael Carlie (2002) explains that initiation ceremonies may include killing a police officer, being bumped or jumped in (One example of this ritual: Gang members form two lines, the initiative has to walk down between them while the gang members beat and kick him or her without showing sign of pain. ), commit a drive by shooting or another type of murder.
Examining Theory Paper Michael Kilgore CJS/314 August 11, 2014 Jennifer Duncan Examining Theory Paper Social structure theories are theories that describe criminal behavior in people. These theories have been in place for many years to help decipher the many things that paly a hand in the people committing crime. Social theories examine both the institutional arrangements within a social structure, social processes, and social life (Schmalleger, 2012). There are three main social theories, social disorganization theory, strain theory, and cultural conflict theory. These theories are different in determining factors that cause criminal behavior.
Dismantling Gangs Throughout time, gangs and gang culture have been a distinct force within communities and social ladders worldwide. The government has implemented many ideas and put them forth to work against the gangs, but gangs continue to add to their numbers due to traditional recruiting processes. Gangs make up a significant portion of the United States subcultures in the inner cities and suburbs alike. The only way to combat them is to stick to some sort of effective deterrent against these men and women, which has unfortunately, yet to be found. The politicians and law enforcement agencies need to remember that the gangs must be targeted and attacked as a whole, and not to single out a certain individual within the group.
In nearly every case of gang allegiance, the individual seeks gang membership because he is unable to find these rewards elsewhere. Additionally, there are a variety of cultural factors contributing to gang membership, both within individual communities and society in general. The failure of the police force and judicial system to adequately deter drug trafficking is a primary reason that gangs exist. Poverty, unemployment, fatherless households, and the insidious breakdown of the family structure are all contributing factors to the proliferation of gangs. It is argued in this paper that gang membership is a logical response by young individuals to socio-economic factors beyond their control.