The Rise of Gangs in the Cities of America - Essay Example

Gangs in America Gangs in America, along with the problems generally associated with them, are growing throughout the large cities of the U.S. Some may be surprised to know this problem is expanding to the suburbs, smaller towns and rural areas of the country as well. Many teenagers are tempted or feel obliged to become gang members due to their social/cultural circumstances or depressed economic reasons. Young persons who grow up in substandard neighborhoods too often perceive that the only way to be protected from gang activity is to join one, an instinctual conclusion based on self-preservation. Being raised in an economically depressed neighborhood can understandably lead youth persons to think that their lives are unimportant and thus want for a sense of identity. The social construction gangs offer provides juveniles with a sense of belonging, a particularly significant need for developing youths. In many neighborhoods, adolescents are actively recruited or are intimidated into becoming gang members and seemingly have little choice. “A few [teens] are virtually born into gangs as a result of neighborhood traditions and their parents’ earlier and perhaps continuing gang participation or involvement in criminal activity” (Moore, 1978). The gangs offer disenfranchised kids, who are undergoing feelings of isolation, a connection to a family-like atmosphere. Some of these youths are wavering between what they consider as their adopted and native cultures but feel a connection to neither. There are many reasons that youths join and remain loyal to gangs, all of which are complex and possibly incomprehensible to the general public. This discussion will briefly explain why juveniles join gangs then discuss gangs themselves, their motivations, general make-up, characteristics, and trends concerning street gang activity. There are numerous early factors that can lead juveniles to become gang members in addition to what might be the most obvious, living in abusive households. Poverty is another of the more significant factors. According to research conducted by the Children’s Defense Fund, nearly one fifth of all youths live below the poverty line in American cities. “Poor neighborhoods, especially ‘inner-city war zones’, generally have relatively high crime rates, unsatisfactory schools and unhealthy living conditions. They provide a child with few resources, negatively affect development and increase the chances a child will become violent” (“Rosado”, 2000, p. 15). Children who are subjected to two or more risk factors such as poverty and abuse, have a significantly higher risk factor of participating in criminal behavior and juvenile violence. Inner city ‘battle zones’, which have grown significantly in many of the country’s small to medium-sized towns in addition to the larger urban sections of major cities, are described as those areas in which most youths over 14 years old has attended the funeral of more than one friend, a very distinct definition, one that is difficult for most Americans to fully comprehend. (Garbarino, 1999, p. 40). The usual age range of gang members range from 12 to 24 years old with an average age being 17 to 18 but this average age is usually older in large cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago where gangs have been operated for a long time. (Curry & Decker, 1998). While the numbers of gang members are rising, the average age of gang members is also rising. Gangs are becoming progressively older as their ranks swell in throughout the country. Predictably, male gang members outnumber females by a large majority, a discrepancy that widens as the aggregate age of the members become older. Gang membership fluctuates in size depending on the kinds of criminal activity associated with that gang. “Traditional (large, enduring, territorial) gangs average about 180 members, whereas specialty (e.g., drug trafficking) gangs average only about 25 members. In large cities some gangs number in the thousands and even tens of thousands” (Block & Block, 1993). Street gangs can be categorized by various means other than merely by considering race alone. However, the intricacies and complexities of gangs, their variations and changing configurations practically defy attempts of accurate labeling. The expression ‘gang’ has several connotations and refers to numerous levels of group involvements. It could be used to mean groups of adolescents that group together in shopping malls perpetrating misdemeanor type activities such defacement of property (graffiti) and shoplifting. It could mean small gatherings of neighborhood youths who group together for the purpose of committing more serious crimes such as theft and distributing of stolen goods or groups that are subsets of adult gang organizations which engage in extensive, felonious criminal activity. (Gordon, 1994). Even these three wide-ranging definitions cannot be readily distinguishable as various gangs may have multiple characteristics and several levels within one group. Certain types of criminal conduct can be statically connected to the ethnicity of street gangs. “African-American gangs are generally more involved in drug offenses; Hispanic gangs, in ‘turf-related’ violence and Asian and white gangs, in property crimes” (Block et al, 1996). However, little consensus exists on exactly defines a gang. A very broad definition involving many expert opinions is “gangs comprise specialized congregations of those engaged in predatory crimes or dealing drugs.” (Miller, 1992). Many cities deny the reality of gang activity within its borders and others mistakenly portray less significant types of group crime as gang activity. It appears that communities are quick to label disorderly teenagers as gangs if the public perceives they are behaving in a delinquent way. Although definitions of gangs vary, most generally embrace this definition: “a self-formed group, united by mutual interests that controls a particular territory, facility, or enterprise; uses symbols in communications; and is collectively involved in crime” (Miller, 1992). A chief source of dissimilarity in gang violence is found in relationships between the community and the gang. Some think that the principal concept of gangs used in the study of gangs is too narrow, it does not take into account the ‘relevance of gangs’ and gang membership in social situations. “The gang’s relevance goes beyond its relationship to individual gang members. For example, gangs serve as carriers of community traditions and culture. Second, a youth’s identification with a gang affects how others react to him or her” (Short, 1996). Gangs make constant efforts to create connections to a community motivated by three main factors. The community offers gangs a ‘safe haven’ from which to function and two, a large populace from which to enlist new members. Third, the gang needs community connections from a psychological perspective. “A bonding occurs between the gang and the community that builds a social adhesive that often takes a significant amount of time to completely dissolve” (Sanchez-Jankowski, 1991, p. 201). Most if not all gang members grew up within the same neighborhood’s they operate in. The people in these neighborhoods therefore are likely to understand the gang member’s motivations because of their connection and/or own prior involvement. Personal interests play a major role in the communities’ perceptions of gangs, for example the concern of gang reprisals and police brutality. “The lack of the public’s commitment to rid neighborhoods of gangs has resulted in little interest by the city or state governments to research the problem.” (Sanchez-Jankowski, 1991, p. 201). Much study remains regarding the association between disadvantaged youths, gangs, their motivation and their involvement within neighborhoods and cities. The evolving structures and increasing numbers of gangs during the past several decades has caused people to be fearful thus increasing the possible misconceptions concerning gangs. Assessing the extent of the youth gang predicament in the U.S. is proving to be very complicated. References Block, C.R.; Christakos, A.; Jacob, A.; & Przybylski, R. (1996). Street Gangs and Crime: Patterns and Trends in Chicago. Research Bulletin. Chicago, IL: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Block, R. & Block, C.R. (1993). Street Gang Crime in Chicago. Research in Brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. NCJ 144782. Retrieved April 16, 2011 from Curry, G.D. & Decker, S.H. (1998). Confronting Gangs: Crime and Community. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury. Garbarino, James. (1999). Lost Boys: Why our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them. New York: The Free Press. Retrieved April 16, 2011 from < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2722594/> Gordon, R.M. (1994). Incarcerating Gang Members in British Columbia: A Preliminary Study. Unpublished study. Victoria, BC: Ministry of the Attorney General. Miller, W.B. (1992; Revised from 1982). Crime by Youth Gangs and Groups in the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. NCJ 156221. Moore, J.W. (1978). Homeboys: Gangs, Drugs and Prison in the Barrios of Los Angeles. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. Rosado, Lourdes M. (Ed.). (June 2000). The Pathways to Youth Violence: How Child Maltreatment and Other Risk Factors Lead Children to Chronically Aggressive Behavior. American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center. Sanchez-Jankowski, M.S. (1991). Islands in the Street: Gangs and American Urban Society. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Retrieved April 16, 2011 from < http://www.njdc.info/pdf/maca4.pdf> Short, J.F., Jr. (1996). Gangs and Adolescent Violence. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. Read More