Propose a solution There are many solutions that address youth gangs and violence; many include community based programs. Although there are proven solutions to these problems, the percentages involving youth gangs and violence continue to grow. A solution to combat youth gangs is to reduce their attraction. (Taylor & Smith). As shown previously there are many reasons as to why juveniles join gangs, which include, building relationships with family and friends, protection, sense of belonging, status, outlaw mentality and economics (National Youth Gang Center, 2007). In order to reduce the attractiveness of these supposed gang benefits the appeal of alternative organizations or programs need to be increased. The goal needs to be offering youth organizations and programs with a uniqueness that equally matches the popularity of the gangs. These organizations need to encourage constructive opportunities amongst adolescents, train and educate for a productive future, involve law enforcement for a more active …show more content…
Some can see the determination to end all youth gangs as a form of respect for the juvenile as well as for the families and the community. Saint Leo’s Cove Value of Respect discusses how as members of society we must respect each other and live and work harmoniously with one another (Saint Leo University). While shown through the actions of the community and law enforcement, they are trying to reduce gang violence by educating minors so they can have successful futures. Respect is important for anyone to go through life, we need it, crave it and demand it. Saint Leos Core Value of Respect enlightens the core belief and shows through all the efforts that respect in societies in relation to youth gangs is not lost. These kids will not be disrespected or lost within the cracks of
Issue: “The number of youths joining gangs in the inner city has doubled, while the number of gang leaders serving time in prison and being released after good conduct has increased. The crime rate for gang violence has risen 20% from last year” (American Intercontinental University, 2015).
In 2003 as a response to communities with a large amount and growing number of youth gangs the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, initiated the Gang Reduction Program (GRP) (U.S. Department of Justice 2008). The formation of gangs is seen as a response to system failures and community dysfunction. As a result, one of OJJPD’s anti-gang initiatives is to make communities safer and have a pro-social environment (U.S. Department of Justice 2008). Furthermore, OJJDP plans to provide economic and social opportunities that gangs often promise to new recruits which are often obtained in an illegal and dangerous fashion (U.S. Department of Justice 2008). OJJDP believes that the GRP is capable of addressing the underlying issues for the increasing popularity and intensity of gang activity in specific suburban and rural neighborhoods (U.S. Department of Justice 2008). The program takes an integrative approach to dealing with the issue of increasing membership and participation with gangs. The following will discuss the program’s goal, theoretical basis, methods of operation, and overall effectiveness. After reviewing these major aspects of the GRP I will personally assess the value of this program and conclude whether or not the evidence supporting the program’s efficiency is strong enough for me to recommend it for implementation.
Hornick. J, Macrae, L., Mellor. B., Pauls. M.,(2005). Youth Gangs in Canada: Preliminary Review of Programs and Services. Retrieved from http://library.mtroyal.ca:2053/lib/mtroyal/docDetail.action?docID=10111707
With an average of one murder per hour, El Salvador, a relatively small country of about six million people, is on its way of becoming the country with highest homicide rate in the world. The violence that has become a Salvadoran social norm derives from many different factors, with the main factor being the high rate of gangs. With over 60,000 gang members actively involved in gangs, the nation has been taken under a sort of violence and mass death only caused by wars (Vice News, ‘Gangs of El Salvador’). Yet, I argue that this war does not continue on because of the high position gangs hold in Salvadoran society today, but is found in its impoverished youth. It is in the impoverished youth that violence is found, not because they partake in
Street Gangs are becoming popular in many cities across the country. According to the Department of Justice's 2005 National Gang Threat Assessment, there are at least 21,500 gangs and more than 731,000 active gang members (Grabianowski). Gangs bring fear and violence to neighborhoods, drugs, destroy property, involve youth in crimes and drive out businesses. When you have gangs in a community, it affects everyone in the community. An alarming amount of young adults are joining gangs and becoming involved in illegal activity. Most gangs have a rule that when you join the gang you are a member of the gang for life. Gangs can be removed from our communities with more community involvement and education.
The streets of Philadelphia are rapidly becoming a home to violent acts and random homicides. Innocent lives are taken every day due to the strong presence of gangs, and the streets are run by unruly groups of fearless young adults. Gang violence in Philadelphia is a major issue, and the citizens will never be safe until gang prevention occurs. Gang prevention is not a simple task, but with the right resources available, it is possible. Gang violence is a problem that will contribute to the collapse of Philadelphia, and it has yet to be solved throughout many generations. With gang violence on the rise, the best solution to gang violence is to educate the youth and parents about gangs and use family support to prevent the creation of gang members from the problem’s core.
Gang violence is a growing problem in this world. No parent would like to imagine their kids dealing with weapons or being threatened by them. These violence’s affects each child individually and their families as well. These gangs recruit multiple different individuals for many reasons such as bribery, family traditions, or even threatening. Although, many kids feel like they have to be a part of it but there are many resources out in this world to prevent them from believing so. Gang violence has been a problem in society for several of years and is a growing problem each and every day.
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.
Youth gangs are defined as any group of people who engage in socially disruptive or criminal behaviour, usually within a defined territory, and operate by creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in a community. Federally in Canada “…Bill C-95… says a gang must include five or more people involved in criminal activity.” Over the last ten or so years, youth gangs have become more violent and dangerous than ever before. They have more access to sophisticated knives and guns and use these weapons to gain power and fear. The problem of youth gangs is especially apparent in low-income neighbourhoods in Canadian cities. Low income neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area are a...
The reason for this program is to use innovative approaches in developing programs, which will teach youth alternatives to violence, substance abuse, anger issues, low self-esteem, and the consequences as a result of making bad choices. During, the program non-violence, team building, leadership development and communication skills is promoted. A neutral and positive setting is provided for young people, so they are able to come together from different gangs throughout the city to work on their issues and programs together. When a youth is referred to the program they have an Intake-Assessment with the family. “Together, a Program Contract/Service Plan will be developed based on the individual needs of the youth/family. If the youth is on probation/parole all requirements of the courts will be incorporated into their contract. Services offered are case management, mediation, innovative focus groups, presentations, collaboration with other youth service organizations, and attendance at court hearings” (Stop ABQ Gangs,
Street gangs have become the primary distributors of illegal drugs on the streets, Gang members smuggle and transport drugs within the country, and many use juveniles to do their “dirty work” due to the high risks of getting arrested. Juveniles do not receive a sentence a grown adult would in court; which leads to many gangs persuading juveniles into joining their “Family”. The discovery of many juveniles gang related tattoos does not come as a surprise due to the large amounts of street gangs in the street that pursue teenager’s to join their associations. Most juveniles that get involved in the life of crime live in a single mother home which does play a big part of their past and present behavior. Gangs take advantage of juveniles who struggle to find their identity or have problems fitting in among others their age. Street gangs are always looking for young juveniles who will get distribute for their association; they are considered “fresh meat” which means they can mold them into being what they want them to be.
A gang is a group of people who interact among themselves. Teen violence is contributed to these gangs. Most gangs claim neighborhoods as their territory and try to control everything inside that territory. This kind of antisocial behavior is a major problem in American Society.
Stopping gang violence requires more than just the law enforcement in solving gang problems. Gang involvement among youths remains to be a prevalent problem to parents and society. It is often associated with violence and other criminal activities within the community. Though reasons remain to be varied, youth participation continues to increase through out the years. In seeking then to understand the motivation for youths joining gangs, it is essential to look at good family function, which promotes healthy development, as well as looking at how poor family function, is related to poor outcomes for youths. The questions to also keep in mind when it comes to family function is which aspects of parenting are risk factors to youths joining gangs as well as how can we help future families in decreasing those risks? Preventing youths from joining gangs in the first place is crucial in realizing on how to reduce youth gang activity. Which leads us to the question “can we stop gang violence?” My answer to this question is yes; we can stop gang violence with effective parenting. Although, school-based programs as well as community-based prevention programs may reduce gang violence, effective parenting stops gang involvement early on from childhood to adolescence.
Proper education is a basic factor in equipping the youths with a better life away from gangs and other unlawful operations. Literature Review The meaning of gang is a subject that lacks clearness among researchers. According to Esbensen (2001), there is no clear and agreed definition of gang globally. Youth mobs and gang crimes are beneath the spotlight in the current media by means of both narratives and statistics stressing instances of disruptive actions.