Gangs and Violence in The Prison System

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Gangs and Violence in the Prison System

Introduction

Gang violence is nationwide and is one of the most prominent problems in the prison system today. Gangs are known to attempt to control the prisons/jails, instill fear within the prison system and throughout the society, and bring negative attention to the system. “Gang affiliated inmates comprise about 18 percent of the 18000 inmate population.”(Seabrook) A growing numbers of inmates and a large amount of them serving longer sentences for violent crimes suggest a notable increase in gangs and violence in the prison system in the upcoming future.

History

“Prisons began to bulge with gang members when states enacted tougher laws for gang-related crime in the mid to late 1980s.”(Martinez) On one hand the laws enacted helped get gang members off the street, but in another way it backfired by not stopping the gangs’ activity. “In many ways their number and power grew even more in prison.”(Martinez) The problem of gangs and violence has been addressed many times throughout the years by the United States Correctional Board but the board has yet to take the problem seriously.

Background

Most gang members in prisons are introduced to the “gang life” at an early age and enter prison a member, but some become a member once behind bars mainly for the protection the gangs are known to provide. Gangs are known to purposely intimidate other inmates, thus reinforcing the reason why “one out of every ten male inmates” becomes a member once behind bars. (Knox) Most of the people who enter prison a member were sentenced for drug offenses. Prison gangs are well known for the handling of illegal substances, alcohol, or tobacco inside the correctional facilities, this is only a ...

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... of Gangs and Security Threat Groups." National Gang Crime Research Center. 2005. Web. 28 Jan. 2012. .

Martinez, Pila. "Novel Attempt to Curb Prison Gang Violence." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 1999. Web. 28 Jan. 2012. .

"Prison Gangs -- Gangs and Security Threat Group Awareness." Florida Department of Corrections. Florida Department of Corrections. Web. 28 Jan. 2012. .

Seabrook, Norman. "Prison Violence on the Rise." USA Today. Buisness Library, Sept. 2005. Web. 28 Jan. 2012. .

Yanez, Dominick. “Security Threat Group’s in the Correctional System Overview.” Sam Houston State University, Huntsville. 13 April. 2012. Lecture.

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