Causes Of Youth's Involvement In Gangs

From stressful environments to influences and abuse will lead a child to gang life in their youth and adult years. Some children are motivated to become part of a gang for the sense of connection or perhaps to define a sense of who they are. Others are motivated by peer pressure, feeling the need to seek protection for themselves and/or their family, because a family member is also a gang member, or to make money. There are many other risk factors that may contribute to youth’s involvement in gangs: growing up in an area of heavy gang activity, gang involvement within the family, history of violence in the home, to little adult supervision, unstructured free time, and lack of positive role models. A life of gangs means death or the possibility of a prison sentence.

The documentary Lockdown San Quentin gave a look at life for prisoners at San Quentin Prison.

1852 in North San Francisco the world’s most notorious prison was built, where the most violent and infamous criminals both live and work, where over 600 male inmates await their death row sentence. Inmates implied prison is what you make of it, some inmates choose to stay busy with work and programs where others choose to keep busy within the prison gangs, a more violent life. A life that is full of isolation, segregation, racism and violence. Safety is a huge factor among these walls as violence occurs regularly and at any time. Prison politics often lead to violence between rival gangs. Inmates do as they are told by their higher power, gang leader known as “shot callers”. Making weapons out of various objects in order to plan attacks. Officers conduct searches of cells and the common areas in order to prevent these altercations however, they are not always successful. In 1982 San Quentin had the largest riot between the Whites and the Hispanics, 42 inmates were

injured.
Gangs in prison are very well organized and are what every inmate has to identify with, not by choice but based on your skin color or race is where you are placed and where your loyalty shall lie. Gangs are formed as a sense of security and safety. In prison, having others to watch your back is important. Gang leaders are known as “shot callers,” they call the shots and they tell the other gang members what to do. Nothing is done without the shot-callers approval or there will be consequences and punishment. Though on the streets one may interact and be civil with a man of a different race, in prison you will not be caught sitting having a meal with a man of a different color or race. That gives a reason for your fellow gang members to turn on you. You must stand by your people. Gangs are very real among prison walls and can become very violent very quickly. Segregation and respect on the yard must be respected. Officers understanding how gangs work in prison is very difficult yet crucial. Being aware of territories and individuals in order to prevent an altercation. Therefore, if someone is not part of a gang they become an easy, venerable target.
The video Lockdown San Quentin closely relates to the novel written by Elderidge Cleaver, Soul On Ice. Both telling a story about life in prison and the experiences that take place are similar. Clever was also an inmate at San Quentin so this video was an elaboration of the life that he lived while he was housed there. They both stress the fact of segregation and racism and the violence that occurs because of these things. Causing division among the inmates as well as racism that occurs by the officers. Which cleaver elaborated on more in depth. Cleaver was sent to prison for possession of marijuana. The inmates in San Quentin are violent criminals with charges like murder and rapist. This is no place for anyone to end up, especially when it is the childhood influence that lead one to this harsh, brutal life. Yes, it is the consequence of their actions but there are contributing factors to keep in mind.