Gangland Bus Tours

By: Brendan Rice, Arjun Handa, Brian Harsha, Alex Dodson

Gang Membership by County in Different Regions

• Gang-related criminal activity in the Pacific Region is significant and likely will remain significant as gang members continue to fight for control of territories

Pacific Region

Who Is Involved?

• Creator– Alfred Lomas

• Gangs– Four unnamed gangs agreed not to harass the bus

when passing through their turf

• Customers– Pay $65 for a bus ticket

• Bus ticket includes lunch

Who Is Affected?• Citizens with no gang affiliation

– Jan Perry, who politically represents a portion of the tour, believes being associated with gang activity will “discourage investment”

• Gang members trying to find a way out– Profits made from the tours to be used as microloans and “initiatives”

to aid gang members in finding jobs– Gang members employed to work on the bus

• Those who may be the subject of other tours– Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans– Rio de Janeiro– Soweto, South Africa

• Current gang members or those who want to be– Glorification of gang life– Insight into the workings of LA gangs

Why Do People Turn To Gangs?

• Money• Protection

– From bullies, other gangs• Involved family member(s)• Fear

– Forced into joining by current gang members• Sense of belonging

– Those with a lack family at home may see a gang as a replacement family

Gang Types • Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

– OMGs are highly structured criminal organizations whose members engage in criminal activities such as violent crime, weapons trafficking, and drug trafficking

• Prison Gangs– Prison gangs are highly structured criminal networks that

operate within the federal and state prison systems– Released members typically return to their home

communities and resume their former street gang affiliations

• Street Gangs– Street gangs that operate throughout most of the country

are a significant threat because they are the largest and control the greatest geographical area

Gang Statistics

• Gang membership in the United States was conservatively estimated at 1 million members as of September 2008

• That is an increase from an estimated 800,000 members in 2005

• There are approximately 24,500 gangs in the U.S

• Every city in the U.S. with at least 250,000 people has gang activity

Gangs Reported To Have Military-Trained Members

Gang statistics

How Can This Problem Be Resolved?

• Tour to inspire customers to lend a hand and aid in resolution (make donations)

• Soup kitchens, clothing drives– Help people afford every day things without

resorting to crime

• College funds to reward kids who try to better themselves

• Outlets such as YMCA and sports

Results

• Does this tour glorify gang life?– Gangs can be seen as entertaining– References to gangs seen in pop culture

• Does it take advantage of the suffering of others?– Customers on the tour may mock the seriousness of

the situation– The real lives of many people may be seen as a tourist

attraction causing desensitization to the needs of those involved

References

• http://www.lapdonline.org/get_informed/content_basic_view/24435

• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/us/16tour.html

• http://www.justice.gov• http://www.helpinggangyouth.com/

statistics.html