Community Ambivalence Towards Gangs

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Ambivalence Towards Gangs A gang or gangs can cause many problems in a community. For instance, if there is more than one gang in an area the two gangs may fight over territory. By doing so, violence towards the rival gang can cause possible deadly harm to anyone that gets caught in between these two gangs. In fact, gang wars can also threaten public spaces as a result of individuals not feeling safe just walking around the community (Venkatesh, 1999). Burglaries, property damage, graffiti, which invites criminal behavior, drug trafficking, etc. all can occur due to gang activity within a community. However, despite gangs causing harmful problems and unsafe living conditions within a community, community ambivalence towards the gang may still …show more content…

One reason being that the members of the gang are usually comprised of the youth within that community (Miller, Hess, Orthmann, 2014). That means that daughters, sons, cousins, friends, brothers, sisters, etc. could all make up this gang. In other words, although individuals within this community may not be in their community’s gang, ties or bonds may exist with those who are. Therefore, these ties or bonds that may exist between the gang and community also may give the gang a sense of safety that may act as an incentive to stay firmly rooted within this community. Another reason community ambivalence toward a gang may exist is due to the protection that the gang may offer (Miller, Hess, Orthmann, 2014). For example, gangs may provide individuals protection for the reason that the individual may have once been a gang member themselves. Protection also may be offered to individuals within the community if they are or were related to a gang member; past or present (Miller, Hess, Orthmann, 2014). In addition, due to these ties or bonds that exist between the community and the gang, the gangs may even become a community institution (Miller, Hess, Orthmann, …show more content…

In fact, as gang members go to prison structural and economic conditions within a community can allow for new gang members to replace them year after year (Fleisher, Decker, 2001). This continued recruitment pool that the community has created is yet another reason gangs feel safe within a community. For example, a younger sibling’s older brother may be part of a local gang within their community, as was his father and grandfather. When this sibling becomes of age they may believe that this is what is expected of him; a community norm and continued recruitment for that gang within the community. Other important characteristics that make a gang feel safe within a community is the gangs need to belong and exist; safe haven (Miller, Hess, Orthmann, 2014). The community can contribute to this feeling by allowing them to take over their community, their family, and do nothing to eradicate the gang. Lastly, gangs look for communities that can provide them with information; such as another local gang’s activities (Miller, Hess, Orthmann,

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