The Gangs in the Troubled and Improvised Neighbourhoods in the United States - Research Paper Example

The Gangs in the Troubled and Improvised Neighbourhoods in the United States Introduction Gangs are prevalent in troubled and improvised neighbourhoods; areas that are characterized by insufficient social facilities, social disorganization and whose people are economically disadvantaged (Tapia 1409). These neighbourhoods have considerable high levels of teen pregnancy, school dropouts and public health problems. In addition, drug sales and use and prostitution may be widespread within these neighbourhoods. According to the National Youth Gang Survey 2009, it is estimated that there were 28,100 gangs and about 731,000 gang members throughout the 3,500 jurisdictions. The survey also shows that there has been a rise in gang activity from 32.4 percent in 2008 to 34.5 percent in 2009. Suburban counties and large cities have high rates of gang related homicides, up to 96 percent. Police reports indicate approximately 1,017 gang homicides in 67 percent of the 167 responding municipalities with populations of more than 100,000. In the 1990s, there was widespread urbanization, slum clearances and racial migration pitted Puerto Rican, African-American and Euro-American versus each other in fights to control transforming neighbourhoods, and uphold their territory and reputation (Spano, Freilich and Bolland 392). By 2008, there were approximately 17,250 gang members in 640 gangs, who were actively involved in crime, in the New England region. In the 2000s, capital cities experienced a significant increase in gangs and criminal activities associated with the gangs. In addition, gang members from metropolitan cities, for instance, Baltimore, Newark, New York and Philadelphia move to and through the 222 Corridor by means of the smaller metropolitan communities as division of their drug circulation networks (Katz et al 51). Police authorities report that gangs are accountable for the serious violent crimes in most of the cities in the United States. The gangs are involved in a wide range of criminal activities such as burglary, assault, extortion, drive-by shooting, weapons trafficking, homicide, sale of stolen property, robbery, prostitution operations, money laundering and identification fraud (Melde and Rennison 634). The study seeks to explore the gangs in the troubled and improvised neighbourhoods, in the United States. The dependent variable in this study will be the gangs in the improvised neighbourhoods, while the independent variables will be the amount of juveniles in the neighbourhoods, gun use and ownership and victimizations. Siegel (13) argues that improvised neighbourhoods have no social organization and economic facilities; thus form an environment where gangs can flourish. Presence of guns, according to Moorhouse and Wanner (108) and Unnithan et al (215), are used as sources of power and intimidation by members of the gang. Gifford (78) suggests that victimization may be carried out to reinforce the reputation of the gang, protection, punishment and revenge from a rival group. Literature review A number of juveniles and adolescents may have the desire to belong due to various reasons, hence will join gangs to identify with them. According to Tapia (1410), many teenage youths view gangs as a culture since the gangs having control over the neighbourhood wear colours, style of symbols and clothes that are specific to that gang, which often shows the power and authority. The majority of teens from minority groups who may be social outcasts more often than not, do not have parental guidance or supervision and lack economic stability. Therefore, these teens join gangs as a way of rebelling and seeking comfort. Gifford (25) adds that these minorities are usually criticized, stereotyped and condemned even before they can prove themselves; thus the society pushes them into the gang culture, which rises out of rebellion and oppression. Lack of economic power drives the juveniles into violence as a better option to exert their power. Gang membership has a profound increase in delinquent behaviour of juveniles. From early to current investigations, it is evident that youth who are in gangs are consistent with crimes and delinquency, as compared to youths not involved in gangs. A research conducted in 1927 by Thrasher, in his study in Chicago on 1,313 gangs, made a conclusion that gang members are more prone to delinquency than non-gang members. According to Katz et al (48), gang researchers have proposed that gang membership make up a qualitatively exceptional experience than simply relating to delinquent peer groups. Furthermore, the gradual increase in gangs together with the rising fear of juvenile crime, has also led to the conclusion that there is a link between crime and gangs. The ownership of guns is seen as a source of power and can exclusively increase the occurrence of violence. Gifford (39) notes that gangs use guns to accomplish and achieve its objectives by forcing compliance from their victims to meet their demands. In addition, guns are used to acquire attention, money, respect, sexual fulfilment, power or humiliation over their victims. Wielding of guns is a show of power and to obtain these and issue threats without inflicting injury. Death or infliction of injury is an indication of failed power and as the most preferred action. The guns offer courage to some members to carry out aggressive acts, which they may be afraid to perform. Possession of guns increases the stakes and triggers the likelihood of the person having the weapon attacking an adversary even if it is not warranted (Moorhouse and Wanner 111). Experimental psychology proposes a weapons effect theory, which states in the presence of a weapon, triggers aggressive behaviour from angered people, due to the association between aggressive behaviour and weapons (Siegel 57). This is evident especially in causes where gang members want to assert their authority or when they are intimidated. Research has also shown that acquisition of weapons has a profound impact on the crime rate. Moreover, studies reveal that increase in the number of guns also increases the violence rates. Unnithan et al (197) suggest that there is a two-way association between violence and guns. Studies that employed validated measures of availability of guns showed rates of violence affected levels of guns. However, levels of guns or ownership of guns did not have an impact on the rates of crime. Additionally, possession of weapons of guns by aggressors or attackers decrease the likelihood that they may injure or attack their victims, rather they use the guns to threaten. Nonetheless, presence of guns increases the fatality of the injury (Unnithan, Pogrebin, Venor and Stretesky 200). Victimization has a profound effect on the gangs that exist in improvised neighbourhoods. The fear of crime or being intimidated may force some persons to join the gangs, since the gangs may offer protections. In neighbourhoods controlled by the gangs, Siegel (67) claims that gang members may victimize no-members in order to exert their authority or people who report their activities to the police authorities. Teenagers who are antisocial and those who experience frequent delinquency victimization are likely to join gangs to seek protection. Melde and Rennison (625) argue that the use of victimization by the gangs is seen as a means to demonstrate their domination and even recruit unwilling members into the gangs. However, some of the gang members can be victimized and may choose to remain in the gang due to the perceived protection it offers. Members who withdraw their membership risk victimization from their former gang or other members from different gangs, therefore, they may opt to join other gangs to protect themselves (Katz, Webb, Fox and Shaffer 55). Recent research has showed that gang members experience more victimization compared as to non-members. Studies have also shown that gangs promote risky lifestyles that result in high rates of victimization. Victimization can be a consequence of a punishment from one’s own gang or revenge from a rival gang. Studies have also shown that victimization may arise due to the commission of certain criminal behaviour, for example, prostitution and drug sale. According to Spano, Freilich and Bolland (402), research studies also indicate that victimization is used to reinforce a person’s reputation or provide protection to other gang member. Moreover, some members employ the use of weapons during the course of victimization. Investigations conducted over the recent years have revealed that gang membership does not reduce victimization as earlier perceived. Instead, the juveniles who join these gangs experience greater victimization while in the gang as compared to when they leave or before they joined. Therefore, this depicts that gang membership increases the threat of victimization (Spano, Freilich, and Bolland 408). Work Cited Gifford, C. Gangs. New York: Evans Brothers. 2011. Katz, C. Webb, V. Fox, K. And Shaffer, J. “Understanding the Relationship between Violet Victimization and Gang Membership.” Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol 39, 48-59. 2011. Melde, C. And Rennison, C. “Intimidation and Street Gangs: Understanding the Response of Victims and Bystandards to Perceived Gang Violence.” Justice Quarterly, 27: 5, 620-661. 2010. Moorhouse, J. And Wanner,B. “ Does Gun Control Reduce Crime or Does Crime Increase Gun Control?” The Cato Journal, Vol 26: 1, 103-124.2006. Siegel, L. Criminology. New York: Cengage Learning. Spano, R. Freilich, J. and Bolland, J. “Gang Membership, Gun Carrying and Employment: Applying Routine Activities Theory to Explain Violent Victimization among Inner City, Minority Youth Living in Extreme Poverty.” Justice Quarterly, 25:2, 381-410. 2008. Tapia, M. “Juvenile Arrests: Gang Membership, Social Class and Labelling Effects.” Youth Society Vol43:4, 1407-1432. 2011. Unnithan, N. Pogrebin, M. Venor, G. and Stretesky, P. “Gun Felons and Gun Regulation: Offenders’ Views about and Reactions to “Shall-Issue” Policies for Concealed Weapons.” Criminal Justice Policy Review, 19:2, 196-216. 2008 Read More