Gang Crime motivators
I have chosen gang crime motivator as a topic to look further into because of the interest I have regarding, why do these members do what they do to each other? They all know about loyalty and love and they know what it is to not have that or loose that as well. Gang members show their emotions all the time by the numbers in which they show up with at funerals and the respect that they have for the family that has lost someone. These indicators allow me to believe that they really do have a heart or they really do have feelings. In fact there are myths about the relationship between gangs and crime. These myths are that: all gang members are hardened criminals, gang members spend most of their time planning or committing
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Gang crimes are the crimes committed by individuals who are believed to be gang members or gang-related, regardless of the offense, or crimes that are believed to have been committed for the benefit of the gang or as part of a gang function (Justice, 2016). So then, what motivates gang members to commit crimes? O’Deane states that the five primary or chronic motives are: improper gang identification, gang turf violations, gang members seeking prestige, the gang’s personal conflicts, and retaliation between rival gangs (O’Deane, p. 16). There may be some differences of opinion across the country but they all have similar thoughts. Now what about the motivators that are not so obvious? Such as: becoming a parent and needing to support a child (financial burden) the gang life maybe the only support; Mistrustful authority or tension within the gang itself; barriers that prevent successful re-entry into society while trying to leave their home areas, or for means of some excitement (Harris, 2011). Media attention/ coverage are other reasons why gang members are motivated to do crimes. Gangs know that police intervention equals media attention (Watkins, 2007). This attention leads the public to think that this gang is really ruthless (Watkins, …show more content…
A gang injunction is a lawsuit against an entire gang or specific members of a local gang (O’Deane, 2011). Gang property abatement concerns itself with specific property, targets property owners, and the specific gang members who are creating or allowing the nuisance at that specific location (O’Deane). These efforts are needed to hold gangs and their members accountable for their criminal activities (O’Deane, 2011). Strictly enforced gang injunctions and property abatements have the ability to disturb the gang and hinder their ability to conduct business (O’Deane,
Over the past 60 years there has been a recent phenomenon in the development and rise of gangs and gang violence. This is exceptionally apparent in South Central Los Angeles where the Bloods and the Crips have taken control of the social structure and created a new type of counter culture. Poverty in this area is an enormous problem caused by a shear lack of jobs; but just because there is a lack of jobs doesn’t mean that there will be a lack of bills to pay, so sometimes selling drugs in order to keep a roof over your head seems like the most logical option. Crime often times flourishes in these regions because the inconvenient truth is; crime pays. Senator Tom Hayden stated “It’s been defined as a crime problem and a gang problem but it’s really an issue of no work and dysfunctional schools.” this statement is in fact true, but with an exception it is a more broad issue than just involving school, and lack of jobs but goes beyond into social structure as a whole and more specifically the judicial system, this can all be supported by three sociologists Chambliss, Anderson, and Durkheim.
Schmidt, L. M., & O'Reilly, J. T. (2007). Gangs and Law Enforcement: A Guide for Dealing with Gang-Related Violence. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD.
First let's focus on the fact that gang related crime is one of the most dangerous challenges facing society and law enforcement today. They are younger, more brutal, unafraid of consequences and becoming increasingly more vicious. Gang members work together as cliques, they commit all sorts of violent crimes including murders, rapes, robberies and kidnappings. "They live in aimless and violent presents; have no sense of the past and no hope for the future; they commit unspeakably brutal crimes against other people often to gratify whatever urges of desires drive them at the moment and their utter lack of remorse is...
legal tools to enable communities to take back their streets and public places from the gangs and gang members that terrorize them. Gang injunctions did contribute to the stabilization of communities and reduce gang-related crimes, they just need improvements to make it more useful and acceptable for both gang members and residents in target areas.
Criminal activities and gangs have mostly always been an on going problem in the United States. Gangs and gang members are frequently involved with a variety of different crimes. The 2008 National Youth Gang Survey reported that there are approximately 774,000 active gang members in the United States (Egley, Howell, & Moore, 2010). The 2008 National Youth Gang Survey also states that there are about 27,900 active gangs in the United States (Egley et al., 2010). The active gangs in California have caused a major impact on the state in many ways. According to the California Department of Justice, approximately 300,000 gang members are living in California (Crawford, 2009). California also attributes more than 25 percent of all homicides to gang activity (Crawford, 2009). This is a staggering huge amount. The rise of gang involvement and gang crime has led law enforcement to issue and enforce gang injunctions. However, these gang injunctions do not completely eliminate gang crime and they have no effect after one year of being issued. Also, gang injunctions interfere with the lives of normal people in society.
Gang injunction is a controversial power that police have that while legal, is often deemed prejudicial on whom it targets. Injunctions are a method of deterring gang members by judging them how they dress, and who they are associated with. In the book Ana Muñez was harsh on gang Injunctions, stating the strain that the injunctions put on many members of the community. Gang injunctions insert a guilty before proven innocent mentality. The gang injunctions affect the life of a community; individuals are judged by what they are wearing and are limited on where they can go. For example, in the book it stresses the effects of mundane acts when individuals are under the threat of gang injunctions, how going to the grocery store can cause grief, when two people cannot be within the same car. When we had the police officers present in class they, also talked about gang injunctions. Compared to the book they seemed to downplay the effects the injunctions had on the community. They stated an example that if there was an injunction in an area where two people have cautiously committed crime, with the same people, who wore similar attire, than that would be a cause for an injunction. What those police officers failed to mention was the scope of injunctions, and how prejudicial they are towards the minority neighborhoods. The slogan stated in the book “We Don’t Need No Gang Injunction! We Just Out Here Tryin’ to Function!” speaks volumes on
What other theoretical elements--from theories we have already covered or other social considerations could explain the attraction to or resistance to gangs? Are there patterns and trends that might have theoretical significance?
Social Class Most of the gang members that have been reported come from the lower social economical class. When these kids are out in the streets they have nothing better to do so they begin to commit delinquent behavior. Since these economically challenged kids have no money to go anywhere, they tend to hang around their neighborhood. These kinds of groups encourage each other to commit criminal activity. They feel that if one does it, all of them can do it too.
Attitudes, meaning how we as people respond to a subject, values, what we perceive is right and wrong, and beliefs play a major role in what brings youngsters into gangs. How does one develop a "gang attitude" to begin with? To answer this we must look at the culture. The values we Americans tend to have, make the alternative life style very appealing, this in conjunction with the glorified gang life style portrayed through the lyrics of the "Gangsta" rap artists all influence the young impressionable mind. This may make the child feel a sense of power, identity, or family, reflecting on the child's attitude. Also one must look at the neighborhood. A child can turn a corner and buy cocaine, see a gang war being played out, etc. It is obvious that the child cannot help but be influenced by this.
Did you know gang's first started off as a way to help stop police brutality? Some gang members are “jumped in” or have to prove their loyalty by committing criminal acts. In the 1960s many gang organizations joined the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers wanted blacks to control businesses, education, employment, and the media in their area instead of having these businesses controlled by white people. They wanted to act as a community army so they can stop police brutality and racism. The leader of this important organization was Bunchy Carter. Street gangs had completely stopped as more black empowered organizations began to form in Los Angeles. After the Black Panthers disbanded that is when street gangs began to become popular because
Gangs originated in the mid 1800’s in the cardinal direction using it as a method to defend themselves against outsiders.The idea of gangs became populous, powerful, and a broad influence. But like all powers, they tend to corrupt and recognizes violence as a way of getting what they want faster than other methods.They turn violence into fun, profit, and control.Creating a situation that affects youth in today’s society.
Hallswort, S. And Young, T. (2004) Getting Real About Gang. Criminal Justice Matters [online]. 55. (1), pp 12-13 [Accessed 10 December 2013]
Otero, Juan. “Curbing street gang violence,” National League of Cities. 21 Dec 1998. General Reference Center Gold. Jan 2007
There are various reasons behind young people joining street gangs. One of the reasons young people join street gangs is because of neighborhood disadvantages. A theory that can contribute to why young people might join street gangs is Social Disorganization Theory. Social Disorganization theory assumes that “delinquency emerges in neighborhoods where neighborhood relation and social institutions have broken down and can no longer maintain effective social controls (Bell, 2007).” Social Disorganization contributes to residential instability and poverty, which affects interpersonal relationships within the community and opens opportunities for crimes to be committed.
Although gang members insist that gangs are the only way to ensure success today, others maintain that the only way to survive is to eliminate them. Many gangs threaten the safety of everyone in their 'hood (territory or neighborhood). Innocent people living in gang war-torn towns live in constant fear of death. However, for children who have no one to look up to and no future to look forward to, gangs can become their surrogate family. Gangs are not only a set of friends or a nights activity. Gangs are a way of life. There is no way to eliminate them, but changing the violent nature of many gangs is possible. Admittedly, gangs cause many serious problems, but they could end up helping more people than they hurt.