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Gangs have been and will always be a part of society, They have in one form or another been around for hundreds of years. For example pirates were in some way or another a form of an organized gang. The groups that traditionally come to mind when one thinks of modern day gangs are the Crips and the Bloods from California, and the people Folk originating from Chicago. The origins of the Crips and Bloods can be traced to the late 60 's, and the gang culture is so ingrained on the west coast that many families have three and even four generations of gangsters residing in the same residence. The people Folks started out in the late 70 and early 80 s Depending on whose figures you listen to (some officials have a tendency to downsize the numbers).
As of January, 1993, L. A. gangs sets numbered between 800 and 1000, with anywhere from 120, 000 to 220, 000 members. These numbers are often debated, and depending on whose criteria is used to decide who is and is not a gangbang.
The figures could be considerably higher. This paper will elaborate on some of the facts surrounding Juvenile gangs. Over the past several years we have seen a increase in the number of juvenile crimes and juveniles joining organized gangs. These juveniles are not only joining at a younger age but are committing more violent crimes then there antecedent.
What makes these young men and women decide to participate in the violent and often deadly crimes of gangs? Why would a youngster be so eager to submit himself or herself to the torture of initiation or risk there life by having sex with a known person thats HIV positive? Although varies regions of the country may have different meanings or definition for the term "gang member" a good description for a gang can be found in the November 1991 issue of school safety update published by Pepperdine University's National School Safety Center, it defines a gang as "A group of three or more individuals with a unique name, identifiable marks or symbols, who clam a territory or turf, associate on a regular basis, and engage in criminal or anti social behavior." Basically juvenile gangs can be placed in one of three categories, however they can often exhibit traits of a combination of the three. THE SOCIAL GANG, Relatively permanent group that hangs out at a specific location, Members develop a sense of comradeship and often engage in organized group activities, Members include the most stable youths in the neighborhood those who have the closest association with the norms and values of society in general. THE DELINQUENT GANG, Cohesive group organized around principle of monetary gain from delinquent activities, Members depend on one another to carry out planned activities and to provide help if necessary, Leader is usually the most competent at stealing and is an excellent organizer and planner, Members are emotionally stable and able to organize their time and efforts for criminal activity. THE VIOLENT GANG, Organized to obtain emotional gratification that violent activities can bring, Members spend time building arsenals, planning and carrying out violent acts, Leaders tend to be emotionally unstable have a need to control and direct others, Both leaders and followers tend to overestimate the importance, size and power of their group, Structure is constantly changing.
Allies one day can become enemies the next day, Identified by inner-group violence. Youth involvement with gangs Can begin as early as elementary school starting at 7 - 8 years of age. Leadership roles in street gangs are usually not formally recognized positions. They are assumed by a member who demonstrates dominant control at a given time. Gangs are usually comprised of males ranging from 7 to 28 years of age. Keeping with modern day mores, gangs have gone equal opportunity allowing females to partake in the stealing, killing and other assorted criminal activities usually reserved for the "men." Some female pioneers have shattered the glass ceiling of gang culture creating their own separate but equal gangs blazing a new trail into sub-humanity.
If a Female gangsters have kids they are valued less than the younger female newcomers, called "Cherries." Often a 25 - 30 year old "OG" gangsters will abandon the mother of his children for a much younger "unused" (twelve or thirteen year old) newcomer to the gang. Females in gangs are often used by several members of the gang as sex objects. Female gangsters are every bit as dangerous as their male counterparts, and should be treated as such. Members represent all racial and ethnic groups and are predominantly from the lowest income levels. However, we " re beginning to see gangs moving into middle class neighborhoods, and in some cases, form integrated gangs Sociologists tell us that kids join gangs in search of family, in search of love, protection, money, fast cars, thrills. They tell us that kids join gangs to get respect from peers and from an indifferent society.
Gang activity is dangerous to gang members and to their families, it is dangerous to neaborhoods, towns and cities, it affects society as a whole. The young juvenile go though the same initiation as the older kids do. This often includes commiting a violent crime, getting "jumped in" (beaten by other gang members) being sexed in or having sex with a known HIV positive gang member, A notorious street gang called the Bloods initiates its new members by requiring them to slash a stranger across the face, or even kill. The media has a big impact on youth gangs, Oftentimes, young peripheral or associate gang members get their first exposure to the gang culture through various aspects of the media -- news shows, movies, videos, games, and even through the music of various artists. Some music and movies tend to glamorize the gang lifestyle. Even telling a would be gangbang how to commit a crime, Many kids who gravitate to gangs do so out of a need to belong to something and for the power that is gained from being in a gang.
The society that we live in makes alternative lifestyles very appealing. I believe, however, that the need for attention and the desire to obtain material goods are fast becoming the motivations driving youngsters to these groups. While conducting a interview with a known gang member calling himself "LIL ROCK", I was told that in order for him to have stayed away from the violence, a role model should have intervened. but he ended up selling crack cocaine on the streets of my home town Dayton, Ohio and made thousands of dollars per week. With the money he paid off his family's debt, purchased relatives homes and clothes, and just generally did what everyone does with money. Prison is not a deterrent for young gangbanger's, in fact they view it as a right of passage. (This was also glamorized by the news media when it portrayed the life of John Gotten.
By going to prison and keeping his mouth shut he was admired by the Mafia and by virtue of that he rose to be the leader of that family). While in prison, these youngsters become exposed to and indoctrinated into the world of real life gangbanger's who are truly the hardest of the hard-core. Then they return back to the streets with there prison record in hand like a diploma from college with more "knowledge" than ever could have been gained on the streets. When they are in prison, many gain rank or "juice" within their gang because they went to the "joint." Bibliography: web
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