Routine Activities Theory Of Gang Crime

7472 Words30 Pages
Prison Gangs Prison gangs are the most feared and destructive element of prison society. Engaging in murder, robbery, rape and drug dealing on a frequent basis, prison gangs pose a danger to the entire prison population. The ability to run a correctional facility safely and properly is seriously diminished with the presence of gang affiliated members. Gang affiliated inmates make up just 3% of the overall prison population but account for almost half of all prison violence (Griffin, 2006). To date it is estimated that there are about 100,000 gang members located in the American corrections system with membership having risen greatly in the last 30 years. With gang codes that stress a culture of terror and…show more content…
A motivated offender according to this criminal theory can be someone who is inclined to commit any sort of deviant action, whether it is a property crime, or predatory action such as murder or rape. But focuses solely upon the direct contact violations involved in predatory violations. These violations involve immediate physical contact between an offender and an object or person, which that offender attempts to steal or damage (Felson, 1979). When a motivated offender is attempting to act upon his will to commit a crime, if he has the required skills to carry out the condition he/she satisfies the first condition of the theory. Secondly, routine activities theory involves a suitable target. A suitable target can consist of a person, home, property or any other object that offenders deem worthy of pursuing. Many factors such as size, value, attractiveness, visibility, vulnerability and ease alter what is considered to be a suitable target at any given time or place. Also other components make committing certain crimes or attacking certain people more attractive than others. Certain components for property and predatory crime that may alter the suitableness of a target may be lack of a lock or an open window on a home, a weak or frail looking man with expensive belongings etc. But the definition of something or someone…show more content…
The Mexican Mafia was California’s first prison gang created in 1957 and consists of mostly Chicano or Mexican American members. Otherwise known as la eme, the Mexican mafia is one of the most powerful prison gangs in California. The gang has about 150-200 known members and is assisted by about 1000 others who are hoping to become full members (Fleisher, 2001). The gang is currently active in the federal system and in 13 states, though it is most active in California and Texas. Several distinguishing features of the gang include the blood in blood out oath, which requires a murder to be committed for entry and members trying to leave are killed. Many members hail from Sureno gangs and its symbols include the number 13 or a black hand print, which is often tattooed on members. The gang is loosely allied with MS-13 and the Aryan brotherhood due to their common rivals in the penal system. Lastly, the gang’s main criminal activities include homosexual prostitution in prison, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, money laundering, human trafficking, and illegal gambling (Fleisher,

More about Routine Activities Theory Of Gang Crime

Open Document