Chapter 4 Gangs. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall...

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.



2 Problems with Gangs

1) Random Violence2) 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.



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



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.



Gang Typology The definition of a gang is varied



Following 4 Components Must Be Present in Gang Definition:1) A group of 2 or more2) 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.



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



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.



2 Groups of Street Gangs People

West Coast Blood Gangs Folks

West Coast Crips Gangs



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.



Poverty and Gangs Street gangs thrive where poverty

and normlessness exist. In 1991 35.7 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.



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.



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



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



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

Chapter 4 Gangs. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Shannon Prentice Hall...

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