The world is not the way it was. At one time people could sleep with their windows up and doors unlocked. In today's society people have to lock their doors and close their windows. Crime is at an ultimate high, and the world is slowly falling apart. This is not the work of the older generations, it is strictly the work of generation X. Teenagers are not what they use to be. A long time ago teenagers were loyal, respectful, and helpful to their parents, but not anymore. Today's teens live their own lives. They do what they want when they want, and they don't listen to anyone much less their parents. These teens drink, do drugs, steal, and murder. They also feel the need to be accepted by their own kinds. This is how gangs are formed. &nb...
Teens get involved in gangs for numerous reasons. One of the main reasons teens get involved in gangs is due to popularity and enhancing their self-esteem (Howell, 2010). One study claims that there are fie main domains that risk factors fall into: individual, family, school, peers, and community (Howell, 2010). The reasons teens join gangs are either for risk factors or entertainment, these reasons include: protection, respect, money, and especially peer pressure (Howell, 2010).. However, the majority of the time teens join gangs to feel protected or because they were peer pressured into doing so.
Gangs can be classified as a group of adolescents who are perceived to be a threat to society, are mostly recognized by their name and territorial power, and have been involved in numerous acts that violate criminal law procedures in North America. (Esbensen, Winfree, He and Taylor, 2001). The first theme that was present in the pieces of literature collected was the lack of opportunities. As previously stated before, becoming involved in a gang starts at a young age. An article titled “Youth Gangs and Definitional Issues: ‘When is a Gang a Gang, and Why Does It Matter?’” explicates what exactly constitutes a gang, starting with young adolescents. Using a survey conducted in the United States, Finn-Aage Esbensen, L. Thomas Winfree, Jr., Ni He, and Terrance J. Taylor (2001) surveyed over 5,000 students. The questions asked were based on how and why they chose to be in a gang (whether they were a part of it currently or before the survey was conducted). The authors concluded their research in deciding unanimously that there was a connection between a social learning theory, and the commencement of gangs. Correspondingly, Herbert C. Covey (2003) created an academic book entitled, Street Gangs Throughout the World, which gave an in-depth look at the different types of gangs across the world. Throughout several chapters, Covey looks at the root causes of how any why gangs are formed. The author noticed that there was a significant trend among young, deprived adolescents and gang membership. (Covey, 2003). Covey (2003) indicated that the more underprivileged a youth was, the more likely the chances would be of them joining a gang, which is a major concern.
Two of the major criminological theories of the twentieth century are Merton’s strain/anomie theory and Shaw and McKay’s social disorganization. Both theories were very important in their time, and still influence theorization today. This paper will discuss both theories and point out similarities and differences.
... are on the streets, they are planning a crime or looking to "gang-bang." The majority of people are aware that every teenager who is seeking independence feels a strong sense of adult ambivalence. Therefore, many of these teens see any intervention by the police as harassment and excessive. The reality is that these young men have been forced to "raise" themselves as many have no fathers and their mother forced to work two minimum wage jobs just to feed and provide clothing for them. Without appropriate role models, they seek the advice and support of friends. This may lead them to participate in risk taking behavior but often just places them in "the wrong place at the wrong time." Many of these young men also carry weapons because their inner-city neighborhoods are full with gangs and drug dealers. And “it’s better to become a member than to get shot by one”.
One of the biggest issues in America today is crime. It is a large problem that continues to erode our country economically as well as morally. Because of the vastness of the problem, many have speculated what the cause for crime may be in hopes that a solution will be found. Many believe that a bad family life, location of residence, and poverty hold a few of the answers to why an individual becomes involved in criminal activity.
Juveniles are important for several reasons. They are most at risk due to their position in their community. Parents in low income areas often work long hours and are not able to supervise their children as much as necessary. This can lead juveniles to seek companionship or support from other youngsters in their neighborhood. This places them in a vulnerable position that gang members may exploit to give them a sense of belonging or community. Older members of gangs may be seen as role models and looked up to. In families in which older family influences are present, gang culture may already be a part of family life. In some families, gang membership may be a tradition reaching back several generations. Younger members of the family may feel expected, or even required, to follow the same path. Such a pervasive presence of gang mentality and culture in a youngster’s life can be tremendously difficult to defeat. Additionally, the high crime rates endemic to many low income neighborhoods may further push youths to turn to gangs as a form of protection and security against the threats that they face.
It is a sad fact of life that crime is everywhere – in cities, in suburbs, in country towns; committed by the poor, the desperate, the greedy, and, yes, by the rich, too. We must accept that the level of crime in the society is inversely proportional to the vigilance with which we fight it. Policing the streets and chasing criminals is just part of the settlement. The police can only do so much to impede crime. It is up to every individual to make the difference, and there is plenty that you and I can do.
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.
If we studied through the history of criminal theory, spiritual and natural theories are taken as major theories of causation of crime. During medieval period, spiritual explanations were taken as punishment given by god for doing wrong things and any natural disasters like flood, fires, etc were evaluated as curse of high power. In modern period, the basic theories of causation of crime are classical theory, biological theory, psychological theory, cultural theory and conflict theory. The classical theory explains that free will acts as center of crime giving example of free will of children that may commit crime which cannot be paid once it committed. In the 19th century, the biological theory got public attention when Cesare Lombrose suggested that criminals cannot be identified by examining their body structures, number of toes, etc giving the research data that determined that ordinary people are mostly involved in crime than militants. Now, this theory is followed by Modern biological theory which signifies that chemical imbalance in brain results violence activities. It supports remarkable example of violence occurred due to lower portion of serotonin chemical and abuse of drugs alcohol (Fishbein 1990). Fishbein(2000) mentioned the relation of the damage of frontal lobe of brain and antisocial behavior. Similarly, psychological theory explains that mental illness of person convicts crime and is supported by Freud’s concept of id, ego and superego. Freud mentioned that any emotional trauma in children of 5 yrs age or above may result long –lasting negative influence. Likewise, the most common but important theory is sociological theory that deals with the conviction of crime ...
Some of the teens are addicts of substances and they tend to believe that being in a gang will give them the freedom to continue using it. At home, the challenge can be bad since parents may not even have an idea of an addiction or ways of coping. Therefore, most teens are forced to join a mob because they can have the desired freedom and access to the drugs.
What does it really mean to live peacefully? How does America live up to their saying of “land of the free”? There is a ridiculous amount of criminal activity happening in the United States of America. This problem should be identify and slowed down drastically. There are many cause of crime in America that ranges from the purist of the American Dream to survival of the fittest. There are people that inhabit American that jut commit crime out of boredom and metal problem, buy other commit it out of a means to live and survive. This paper will examine and explain all the underlying factors that causes crime here in America. This paper will also then explain the effect these crimes have on America as well. The purpose is to inform and bring
A gang can be defined as a group of people who unite to serve a common purpose and engage in violent or otherwise criminal behavior. (http://www.ci.torrance.ca.us) The types of crimes committed by gang members differ between gangs, but the crimes generally associated with gangs include vandalism, robbery, drug-trafficking, assault, arson, and murder. There are many reasons why teenagers may join gangs. The root causes of violent gang formation are poverty, stressed families, unemployment, under-employment, under-education, racism, and the breakdown of sociocultural institutions. (http://www.instanet.com) Many people join gangs for protection from violent people in other gangs. (http://www.public.iastate.edu) Other people join gangs for the sense of family that comes along with it. The youth gang satisfies a void - the child's desire to feel secure. It provides the child with a sense of identity, belonging, power, and protection. The gang provides a protective barrier against the outside world. (http://www.highways.com)
What is this world coming to? Our society is losing its authority. The syllable of the syllable Why is there so much crime in society? There is so much because there are so many people that never consider the other person that they are stealing from or causing harm to. All of these people are self-centered and never think who they could be.
The causes of crime seem to be indefinite and ever changing. In the 19th century, slum poverty was blamed; in the 20th century, a childhood without love was blamed (Adams 152). In the era going into the new millennium, most experts and theorists have given up all hope in trying to pinpoint one single aspect that causes crime. Many experts believe some people are natural born criminals who are born with criminal mindsets, and this is unchangeable. However, criminals are not a product of heredity. They are a product of their environment and how they react to it. This may seem like a bogus assumption, but is undoubtedly true.
Human antisocial behaviour is complex and trying to understand it has always proven to be a daunting intelligent task, especially in modern culturally diverse societies. Crime, broadly defined as behaviour through which individuals obtain resources for others through uncouth means, presents as one of the most refractory internal social dilemmas. Understanding individual criminal acts such a murder, rape or motives behind them is intricate, rather their behavioral definitions and causes offers a more clear platform for argumentative reasoning. Criminal behaviour, regardless of manner, involves use of barbaric methodologies to obtain symbolic or material resources. Criminal behavior results from methodical processes that involve intricate interactions among isolated, societal, and environmental factors in people’s lives.