SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OFGANGS

FREMAN J. MURPHY

Gangs- socially excluded, alienated individuals loosely organized with informal leadership•Gangs have been part of US culture since 19th century•Bound by ethnicity, race, social class•Defined by a system of rules, rituals, and codes of behavior

19th Century Gangs

•Gangs were a means of economic survival

•Seen as normal adolescent peer activity from conventional to wild behavior

Gangs – (cont’d)

Employ distinctive symbols:Style/color of dressHand signsTattoosGraffiti

Girls in Gangs- Usually have been a runaway at least once due to family issues

Such as drug addiction, physical abuse, parent or parents in jail

Gangs

•Serve as a substitute family to members that join•Consist of a sense of empowerment amongst members defending a neighborhood, street, or territory•Financial gain through violent acts, criminal and delinquent

Gangs- (cont’d)

•Prevalent in neighborhoods where community network is weak

•The absence of positive male role models is best predictor of gang membership

Gangs and violenceGang access to firearms increases lethal violence in incidents that could have been settled with less than lethal means

Youth membership involvement in weapon use, drugs, criminal activity increasing in the culture of gangs

BLOODS•Founded in Los Angeles in 1970s•Initially formed to compete with the CRIPS•Identified by the color red•Made up of various sub groups known as “sets”•Each differ depending on colors, clothing, operations, political ideas•Have branched out across the US, including throughout the US military•Focus shifted to drug production with the rise of crack cocaine

CRIPS•Founded in L.A. in 1970s•“Sets” often engaged in violence with one another•One of the largest and most violent gang•Known for use of color blue•Known criminal activity such as murder, robbery, drug dealing

FACTORS FOR CHOOSING THE GANG LIFE1.Continous crime exposure2.Absent positive role models3.No parental control in an unstable family life4.Few economic opportunities that hinder self-sufficiency5.Inadequate recreation/constructive activities for youth

6. Minimal employment opportunity7. Education and skills limited8. Enticed by power and money by way of

drugs9. Sense of belonging10. Immediate gratification11. Low self - esteem

Factors (cont’d)

58% OF JURISDICTIONS SURVEYEDREPORTED THAT THEY HAVE ACTIVE YOUTH GANGS

THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 23,388YOUTH GANGS WITH 664,906 MEMBERSIN ALL 50 STATES

(HUFF, 1998)

GANG STATS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgTQ_DJvkZE

VIDEO

Show them love Talk and listen to your children Supervise all activities Help keep them involved in athletics and other

activities that may interest them Know their friends as well as their friends’

parents Place a high value on education and encourage

children to do well Discuss dangers and consequences of joining a

gang along with other illegal activities

What can parents do?

Huff, R. (1998). Comparing the Criminal Behavior of Youth Gangs and At-Risk Youths. Retrieved May 12, 2009, from http://www.ncjrs.gov (n.d.). Retrieved May 13, 2009

http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/policy/prevention/gangs (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2009

(n.d.). Childrens Health Encyclopedia: gangs. Retrieved May 11, 2009, from www.answers.com/topic/gang

REFERENCE