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Gang violence in prison system
Prison gangs and the role they play in prison security
Research paper on Prison Gangs and Violence in the US Corrections System
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For these reasons, it is easy why gangs impact prisons and why they require special attention. With the abundance of gangs, prisons have been forced to implement a number of programs. The first program used to combat gangs is the “gang intelligence program” (Management, n. d, p. 6). This is considered the most commonly used program. Which, intel’s “shakedowns, correspondence checks, and informants, provide important information concerning gangs in a correctional system” (Management, n. d, p. 6). Following this, the information “must be evaluated, systematized, and made readily retrievable” (Management, n. d, p. 6). Otherwise the gang intelligence programs will not be as effective in addressing gang problems. Overtime, prisons realized that they had to increase their effects if they were going to stay on top of these sophisticated gangs. …show more content…
They also discovered that they needed to collect “membership” data and more specific gang “activity” (Management, n.
d, p. 6). This led to the creation of another gang program whose job is to gather this gang intel such as; missing membership and activity information (Management, n. d). Then, they were tasked with coordinating all the information and inputting it into a statewide data base (Management, n. d). “The program[also] identifies inmates when they enter the correctional system and monitors their activities while incarcerated” (Management, n. d, p.7). Along with this, prisons have had to implement a “gang task force” (Management, n. d, p. 7). In this program, “criminal Gang Activity Coordinators from each institution meet monthly with representatives of more than 100 agencies to share; information and concerns about gang activities” (Management, n. d, p.
7). Aside from the programs, gangs force prisons to add an extra layer of surveillance. The added surveillance includes; “monitoring gang activities”, “tracking individuals”, “documenting”, and “record keeping” (Management, n. d, p.6). For surveillance efforts to be successful, prisons must begin this when the inmate arrives. This includes questioning the inmate, taking pictures, and creating a gang profile. Over the years, various states “have developed formal validation processes for determining and documenting an inmate's gang affiliation and activities” (Management, n. d, p.5). The “formal validation [process] is based on specific criteria related to gang affiliation (behavior, signs, activities, etc.) and can serve as an important tool in classification, housing, and parole considerations” (Management, n. d, p.5). The other form of surveillance takes place after intake and includes regular shake downs.
The first mistake in the correctional system is grouping gangs instead of separating them. Putting members of the same gang together only makes them feel right at home and comfortable in their surroundings. In addition, rival gang members are able to interact, leading to a increased level of hatred towards each other, which is then brought back to the streets. Bangers are taken off the street only to be reunited with fellow bangers in the same situation only behind bars.
This book review covers Policing Gangs in America by Charles Katz and Vincent Webb. Charles Katz has a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, while Vincent Webb has a Ph.D. in Sociology, making both qualified to conduct and discuss research on gangs. Research for Policing Gangs in America was gathered in four cities across the American Southwest; Inglewood, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona. This review will summarize and discuss the main points of each chapter, then cover the relationship between the literature and class discussions in Introduction to Policing and finally it will note the strengths and weaknesses of book.
This paper will cover issues that young minorities encounter in the movies; Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008), Gran Torino (2008), A Better Life (2011). Movies will be summarize, and compare and contrast youths experienced. Criminological theories shall be utilized to further elaborate issues. Finally steps and theories will be utilized towards solving issues, also possible methods to correct the issues will be addressed in the end.
Prison gangs were created by inmates as a way to protect themselves from other inmates. Each prison gang has their reasons for existing. There are five prison gangs in the United States. These gangs are as follow: The Aryan Brotherhood, The Black Guerilla Family, Texas Syndicate, Mexican Mafia, and Lanuestra Familia. They all have similar beliefs, meanings of their tattoos, how gangs impact their lives and society, and the challenges they bring the prison system in order to decrease gang population.
Prison gangs are originally formed by inmates as a way of protecting themselves from the other inmates. These gangs have turned out to be violent and thus posing a threat to security. This paper will have a look at the different gangs in prisons, their history, beliefs and missions, and the differences and similarities in these gangs.
Gang involvement has been quite higher than past years. The 2008 National Youth Gang Survey estimates that about 32.4 percent of all cities, suburban areas, towns, and rural counties had a gang problem (Egley et al., 2010). This represented a 15 percent increase from the year 2002. The total number of gangs has also increased by 28 percent and total gang members have increased by 6 percent (Egley et al., 2010). This shows how relevant gang related activity is in today’s society. More locations are beginning to experience gang activity for the first time. Gang crime has also been on the rise in the past...
One of the major problems of corrections today is the security threat group - more commonly known as the prison gang. A security threat group (STG) can be defined as any group of offenders who pose a treat to the security and physical safety of the institution. Throughout the 1960's and 1970's, prison gangs focused primarily on uniting inmates for self protection and the monopolization of illegal prison activities for monetary gain (F.B.P., 1994, p. 2). STGs are mostly divided along racial lines and practiced defiance towards authority. STGs use a variety of hand signs, alphabet codes, tattoos, and different types of gang terminology. Gangs characteristically have rivals and make an alliance with other gangs. The criminal activity of S.T.G.’s does not only exist inside the confines of the prison walls, but has flowed to the outside world. “Prostitution, extortion, drug selling, gambling, loan sharking – such activities are invariably operated by prison gangs” (Gaines, Kaune, Miller, 2000, p.652). The Texas Prison System consists of eleven classified security threat groups; Texas chooses to classify a gang as a STG when they become involved in violent activity. “Prison gangs exist in the institutions of forty states and also in the federal system” (Clear and Cole, 2000, p. 260). Three main stages that the offender will experience with the S.T.G. are recruitment, the gang experience, and affiliation upon release.
One method that is being used in corrections that has resulted on crime prevention committed by gangs are reporting gangs and all the forces used to identify and convict gang members. For example, the task forces that were used to identify and arrest the 200 MS-13 gang members. The reporting done through the FBI sponsors, which allowed the offices to report violent street gangs and drug related violence. In
Tobin, Kimberly. Gangs: An Individual and Group Perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.
Many people would prefer to think that the prisons are occupied by criminals who are isolated from society. However, Prisons are far less isolated from American Society than they would like to think. The Aryan Brotherhood frequently demonstrates the ability to transcend the confines of prison by running a criminal syndicate both in and outside of prison. Evidence suggests that extremists utilize prisons as avenues for recruitment and many inmates become indoctrinated with racist beliefs whilst inside. Understanding the complexities of prison gang development is imperative in order to control and limit the power they have inside and outside of prison.
Juvenile Delinquent Gangs As a kid I could remember walking to school every day. While on the way to school, there was always a group of kids sanding outside of the school walking away. These kids dressed differently and they all wore the same type of clothes. It wasn’t until years later that I was told to stay away from them because they were gangsters.
Offenders that are incarcerated within the prison quickly find a group of people commonly associated with their ethnic groups to establish a rapport with. They do this to ensure that they reduce the chances of becoming a victim within the confines of prison. The problem is that once they gain reliance with a group of people, they commonly find themselves in a gang. So instead of learning a trade to ensure that they are successful when they are introduced back into society, they more often become educated on the benefits of gang life.
Fleisher, M. S., & Decker, S. H. (2001). An Overview of the Challenge of Prison Gangs. Corrections Management Quarterly, 5(1), 1.
Hallswort, S. And Young, T. (2004) Getting Real About Gang. Criminal Justice Matters [online]. 55. (1), pp 12-13 [Accessed 10 December 2013]
Many stereotypes of gangs have been fabricated. The problem is that a majority of gang members do not fit these stereotypes, which, in turn, makes it hard for the to be caught (Klein). Traditionally they organize their group around a specific neighborhood, school or housing projec...