Gang Activity

Environmental Factors Contribute to Juvenile Crime and Violence

Environmental Factors Contribute to Juvenile Crime and Violence. Delbert S. Elliott. Opposing Viewpoints: Juvenile Crime. Ed. A.E. Sadler. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997.Summary/Reconstruction http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C7%2529%2522Gangs%2522%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1&currentPosition=1&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C7%29%22Gangs%22%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010149220&docType=GSRC Due to environmental factors many members of the youth are forced to participate in gang activity. Some of these factors are Family, School, Neighborhoods, Weapons and Drugs etc. There is a clear heirchy that develops in high schools and due to the fact that humans seek acceptance students feel moved to participate in gang activity so that they might be a part of a family. Another reason that students join gangs is because they’re parents spend a great deal of time working and with this they do not have a family; once again they are seeking acceptance from a group.

Jordan Lehrman

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Adolescents Join Gangs for a Sense of Social Belonging

1. Adolescents Join Gangs for a Sense of Social Belonging. Phelan Wyrick. Opposing Viewpoints: Gangs. Ed. Adela Soliz. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009 http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%252528en%25252C%25252C%252529%25253AFQE%25253D%252528su%25252CNone%25252C14%252529%252522Gangs%252522%25252C%252Bcause%252524%257E%252914&contentSet=GSRC&sort=DateDescend&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=SEE_REFERENCE&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R4&currentPosition=3&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C7%29%22Gangs%22%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010137265&docType=GSRC

"Young people frequently see gangs as an attractive choice or a solution to their problems." There are ‘pulls’ that help well pull young people into games. These pulls consists of items such as, respect, excitement, social opportunities, protection, and money. One of the main reasons that teens join gangs is because it is a short-cut to respect. Instead of having to work hard to earn respect, you simply have to act violently towards rival gangs and use vandalism to support your gang. As you become more violent you will rise in ranks through the gang and quickly gain respect. Not only will you be respected by your fellow brothers but you too will be feared by others around you. Furthermore, the promise of money is very compelling towards those of lower classes.

Jordan Lehrman

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Gang Membership Increases Youth Violence

Gang Membership Increases Youth Violence. James C. Howell. Opposing Viewpoints: Violence. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%252528en%25252C%25252C%252529%25253AFQE%25253D%252528su%25252CNone%25252C14%252529%252522Gangs%252522%25252C%252Bcause%252524%257E%252914&contentSet=GSRC&sort=DateDescend&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=SEE_REFERENCE&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R4&currentPosition=20&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C7%29%22Gangs%22%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010171246&docType=GSRC

There is increasing entrepreneurship taking place within gangs and this hope for money draws many into joining gangs. Many that join gangs already have violent pasts and drug problems. Some join so that they can continue to fight while others join so that they can fund their drug addiction. Lastly, through violence respect is created for the youth joining such organizations.

Jordan Lehrman

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Factors Leading to Youth Gangs

University of Wisconsin Graduate College, Kevin C. Lor, September 2003 http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2003/2003lorc.pdf

This student analyzes the effects of gangs on the lives of the youth of Hmong children. Like others, he perceives rigid and strict parenting as a mean for joining a gang. Also, seeking love, guidance and acceptance is a very key factor for youth to join gangs. Another reason is because gang leaders need youth to run drugs for them. The consequences of a juvenile drug runner vs. an adult are much less severe. Gang members recruit youth who are vulnerable, ones who have poor behavior records and ones who have been kicked out of school or who have dropped out; they give them an option. Economics also factor in to youth joining gangs. Often times parents used to have well-paying jobs but when the child grew the parent lost the job leading the child to need to seek extra funding for items he/she used to receive.

Jordan Lehrman

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Violent Crimes in City Gangs

Violent Crimes in City Gangs. Walter B. Miller Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of Political and Social Science http://www.jstor.org/stable/1034757?seq=2&Search=yes&term=American&term=gangs&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedSearch%3Fq0%3DAmerican%2Bgangs%26f0%3Dall%26c0%3DAND%26q1%3D%26f1%3Dall%26c1%3DAND%26q2%3D%26f2%3Dall%26c2%3DAND%26q3%3D%26f3%3Dall%26wc%3Don%26ar%3Don%26pm%3Don%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26la%3Deng%26jo%3D%26Search%3DSearch&item=7&ttl=7462&returnArticleService=showArticle&resultsServiceName=doAdvancedResultsFromArticle

Crime in gangs are usually associated with random and passionate volent acts. This is not always the case gangs are involved in many pre-meditated crimes involving drugs and theft. Vandalism and violence are still present but their role in the gang members life have changed through the decades.

Stuart McDonald

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Stopping Violent Crime By Gangs

Bunch, Joey. "Gangs 'too huge' to make this a turning point The gang culture has survived other setbacks, a former member says, and the best chance of stopping gangs in their tracks is to stop young people from joining" Denver Post. Denver, CO. March 12, 2010. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1981504501&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1268851465&clientId=10553

This article states that no one event can stop gangs and gang violence in its tracks. The general message is that the way to stop gang violence is to stop younger people from joining the gangs.

Nick Romjue

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Urban Violence and Street Gangs

Vigil, James Diego. "Urban Violence and Street Gangs." University of California School of Ecology. 2003. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25064828?&Search=yes&term=violence&term=prevention&term=gang&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dgang%2Bviolence%2Bprevention%26wc%3Don%26dc%3DAll%2BDisciplines&item=2&ttl=1820&returnArticleService=showArticle

This article just gives basic information about how gangs operate and what shapes and causes the behavior. It discusses the different factors that go into the formation and joining of gangs. It serves to give the reader a better understanding of gangs and therefore a better understanding of how to stop gang violence.

Nick Romjue

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