...Trenton Gang Violence on the Decline Myth or Fact In conducting my research on gangs in Trenton, New Jersey and whether or not their presence and the perception that violence is on the decline; either myth or fact appeared contradicted at best, similar to how our researchers in the context of our reading toggled with the definition of gangs. The scope and methodology of my research consisted of the following approach: Interviews: I spoke with a detective and long time friend B. Mathis on the phone of the Trenton police department on approximately December 17, 2009 regarding his take on how his law enforcement teams were dealing with combating the war on gangs in Trenton. I spoke with Z. Chester, Trenton Central High School classmate on December 17, 2009 who is now running for City Council from whom I wanted to obtain a political view point on the gang progress or decline in Trenton. I conducted a similar interview with a distant friend T. Mack, who is now running for Mayor in Trenton on the same political views on gang violence and potential decline within the city. I had arranged, but was unable to speak with a former security guard of Trenton Central High and Junior High School #1 by the name of B. White about his perception of gang activity in comparison from middle school to high school and some of his experiences as he attempted to uphold discipline in the capacity of his role as a security guard. Lastly, I gathered some small, but factual information from...
Words: 2309 - Pages: 10
... Victims of Crimes and the Media Violent crime, gangs, and drugs are tearing our families apart. Violent crime and victims have become an issue in America and the rest of world. The negative effects of television, Movie Theater or any kind of media is affecting our children and teenagers. Statistics indicate a decline in violent crimes in our country and an increase in our national population in prisons. It is indisputable that our families are the victims in these drugs, gangs and organized crime issues in our communities. Nobody can discussed or argue that we need to stop this malicious act of violence. In addition, nobody can disagree that this violent crime is hard to fight. Gangs are born in impoverished sections of major cities. However, gangs and drugs activities are not limited to inner cities. Gangs and drugs are in suburbs and rural communities and in communities of great economic diversity. Gangs do not recruit certain type of race, economy or cultural status. Exist in every level and every kind of community. (Stewart, 1989). Therefore, our problem is everywhere and anywhere. The lack of parental supervision, employment, recreational opportunity and breakdown in family structure are the main reasons why our children are joining the ranks of these organized criminal institutions. It could be wrong to say it, but the truth is these gangs provide them (our children) with enough companionship, protection, a sense...
Words: 1255 - Pages: 6
...Bullying and School Violence School Violence is not something new to us; we hear about it more and more these days where there are shootings in schools, or kids being bullied and the parents are seeking help. The number of children who are becoming victims to this violence is growing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics “During the 2009–10 school year, 85 percent of public schools recorded that one or more of these incidents of violence, theft, or other crimes had taken place, amounting to an estimated 1.9 million crimes. This figure translates to a rate of approximately 40 crimes per 1,000 students enrolled in 2009–10. During the same year, 60 percent of schools reported one of the specified crimes to the police, amounting to about 689,000 crimes—or 15 crimes per 1,000 student’s enrolled.” http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=49. That is a lot of school related crimes and those are just the ones that are being reported. What do I consider a violent act? When I think of violence I tend to only think of the actions that produce physical harm to a person. But the definition of violence” is an extreme form of aggression, such as assault, rape or murder. Violence has many causes which include frustration, exposure to violent media, violence in the home or neighborhood and a tendency to see other people’s actions as hostile even when they’re not.” American Psychological Association; Violence; http://www.apa.org/topics/violence/index.aspx. When I...
Words: 1578 - Pages: 7
...Course – Keeping Kids Out of Gangs Ashley Solipo Kaplan University CM107 Changing Course: Keeping Kids Out of Gangs The article I have chosen is Changing Course: Keeping Kids Out of Gangs by Nancy Ritter who is a writer and editor for the National Institute of Justice. The audience that the article is directed towards are parents, families, teachers, law enforcement, as well as youth groups who have interaction with our youth on a daily basis. I selected this article to write about because I believe it is a huge problem in our society today. Our communities should be forewarned of the violence and consequences of youth gang membership. Here in the United States gang membership has remained persistent and has been such a huge problem for many in the past years. It is said that One in three local law enforcement agencies have reported gang problems in their jurisdiction. In a 2010 national survey, about 45 percent of high school students and 35 percent of middle school students had admitted to being gang members. It is sad to see that this is the world we live in today! Because of the increase in gang membership, consequences for gang membership has increased tremendously and placed such a burden on communities and law enforcement today. The influence of gangs today has played a huge role in the generations to come. Our youth who are in gangs are more likely to be both victims and perpetrators of violence then those whose are not involved...
Words: 603 - Pages: 3
...spike is a rise of gangs and gang culture. St. Louis is home to one of America's most active and aggressive gang cultures, helping make it one of the most violent U.S. cities. In parts of North St. Louis and North St. Louis County gangs wage turf wars that, in some cases, run block to block. The impact this has on people living in these neighborhoods is overwhelming. Webster’s dictionary defines violence as exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse. It is also defined as intense, turbulent, or furious and often destructive action or force. Within the Saint Louis community, our #1 problem in my personal opinion would be violence. Nowadays it is not only violence, but gang-violence and its impact on our future generations. Our future lies in the hands of those who feel that they cannot express themselves without showing some sort of aggression or agitation. This problem must be tackled within the matter of urgency and commitment towards those who have no knowledge or respect for what they take part in. Gangs are defined as group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. Over the years in urban area of Saint Louis, gangs have lost their true identity. It was formulated for protection of the community, in a sense of uplifting one and another. Towards the mid 80’s it has transformed into a battle of the finest and is done on a “just because” status. Youth gangs are variously defined...
Words: 1282 - Pages: 6
...Gangs are becoming a growing problem in American society. More young children are turning to gangs to solve problems in their lives. When youths join gangs, they drop social activities with family, friends and school. Members fall behind their classmates in school and do not try. A study shows that less than 1% of gang members are literate. Gangs destroy teenager lives and destroy their chances for a good education and a happy life. Teenagers are joining gangs every day. They join gangs for many reasons. A former gang member known as G-Ball was very young when he joined his gang. He and a friend would play a game. They would pose as gang members to be cool. Then police arrested him and other gang members for stealing cars. G-Ball never wanted to be a gang member he wanted to act and dress like one. Gang violence is a major issue in the world today. It emerged in 2006 as a key factor in homicide resurgence. In Florida, statewide homicides jumped 27% in the first six months of 2006. Gangs are more prone in the major cities of the United States, like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago and there are many more. There are certain types of juveniles who are most likely to engage in this kind of violence, and they are, those who have behavior problems as young children, those who come from homes where their parents do not keep a close enough eye on them, and those who are being raised into gangs. Some current programs that are currently and effectively addressing gang...
Words: 1034 - Pages: 5
...The Effects of Public School Uniform Policies Taresha Y. Hemphill ECPI University Abstract Public school uniform Policies are not a solution to all school problems. Some problems will still exist. However, the improvements that the mandatory uniform policies have made across the nation are indisputable. Public school uniform policies will continue to reduce school violence and gang activity and overall help create a productive and safer learning environment. It will take more work to correct the school systems, but they will only get worse if something is not done about them. Even though school uniforms are a small step to improving the violence in public schools in the United States, it is better to make that small step than do nothing at all. There are vast opinions over what students should wear to school. Some see a student’s style of dress as an expression of who they are and dress code policies as a First Amendment Rights issue. Others see a student’s style of dress as a safety issue. School Dress Codes and Uniform policies have been challenged in PTA meetings, the classroom and in the court room. The main reason for having these policies is to create a safer, more productive learning environment for our children; not to strip away their freedom. We should allow students to express themselves and their individuality. However, this does not mean that their expression should be so...
Words: 1135 - Pages: 5
...Social Problems Associated with Street Gangs Gangs are becoming prevalent in today’s society and within our schools. More and more young people are turning to gangs in an attempt to escape their everyday lives and the future, which they perceive as dismal and bleak. They are initially attracted to the prestige and cash flow, which is glamorized by the street gang. Many gangs are actively involved in criminal misconduct, such as drug and gun trafficking, burglaries and homicides. However, street gangs are not just a criminal justice issue, but a social problem, which is triggered by poverty, peer pressure, boredom, despair and lacking a sense of belonging. A street gang can be defined as “an organized social system that is both quasi-private (not fully open to the public) and quasi-secretive (much of the information concerning its business remains confined with the group) and one whose size and goals have necessitated that social interaction be governed by a leadership structure that has defined roles; where the authority associated with these roles has been legitimized to the extent that social codes are operational to regulate the behavior of both the leadership and the rank and file; that plans and provides not only for the social and economic services of its members, but also for its own maintenance as an organization; that pursues such goals irrespective of whether the action is legal or not; and that lacks a bureaucracy (i.e., an administrative staff that is hierarchically...
Words: 1818 - Pages: 8
...Should School Dress Codes Be Enforced? Troy Gibson Research and Writing- English 215 Fall Quarter Major Paper B Final Exam December 18, 2008 Instructor: Danny L. Daily Over the last decade or so the topic of school dress codes has been the center of attention here in America. The main question asked is, Should school dress codes be enforced? Especially in public schools in the U.S. There are some positive and negative factors surrounding the concerns of school dress codes being enforced. Some opponents against school dress codes include, students, parents and faculty members, which argue certain factors that enforcing the dress code is, a violation of students rights, of freedom of expression, second, it can put a financial burden on students families who live below the poverty line, third, some claim it is just a temporary relief to school violence, fourth it adds an additional tax on parents who already pay taxes on free public schooling, and fifth, some say that enforcing the dress code is to difficult in public schools. On the other hand, those who are proponents of the dress code add that by enforcing this policy, it will help eliminate violence, identify outsiders who do not belong there, improve a student attendance, eliminate students from being peer pressured in buying designer clothing and foster a students discipline as well as lessen the social and economic boundaries between students in school. With all of these...
Words: 1532 - Pages: 7
...Gangs in the United States James C Vincent II Metro State University of Denver Abstract Gangs are not really addressed a lot. The criminal justice system really doesn’t have a big effective way to combat gangs or gang violence. You can arrest people that are affiliated with gang related things but there will always be someone behind them. Gangs in the United States today only serve 3 purposes. To protect, make money and gain power. As long as there is one of those variables available someone will always be up for anything. The youth are the most important in this factor because they are the future of our society. I don’t personally agree with the current solution of incarceration of minors. If there was another way that involves turning their lives around, I personally believe less of our youth will be recruited. There was an after school program for troubled youth but it has been shut down due to funding. If there was some type of big organization to stop development of gangs and recruiting this would not be a problem. Gangs are in every city of every state and one of the leading causes of some type of crime. The system fails to realize the true cause of gangs. Without knowing anything about gangs there will not be a solution to the violence or crimes. There are some things that are obvious. For example, there are more minorities in the gangs in the United States. While that...
Words: 1691 - Pages: 7
...on your sundress. Our community as a whole seems to be like a close-nit family, who is always looking out for one another. In 2006, an article from CNN Money, rated Boise as the “Number 8. Best places to live in”. We have great real estate prices that tend to lead more and more people from different states such as California and Texas to call Boise their new home. The Boise School District has always had great overall reviews, and from my own personal experiences I would have to agree. All of these signs would make one believe there would be a low risk of gang and violence in our smaller community, but after a bit of research I found there to be many difference cases of violence throughout the Treasure Valley. There are thousands of battered women’s programs across the country that works to provide emergency shelter and other services for violent families. In Idaho, there are 24 such programs with a variety of different services to help the community. “Research shows that violence can be prevented or reduced when authorities intervene. Otherwise, the cycle of violence and abuse can continue against you and your children and may increase in frequency and intensity. If you are a victim of domestic violence, break the cycle, and ask for help” (Women’s Life House, Boise Idaho). I was completely unaware of how many different types of shelters there were around Boise. This would be a major indicator that there are many different acts of crime and violence around...
Words: 515 - Pages: 3
...Marsha Decker English 112’ October 11, 2013 Youth Gangs Today in America we hear a lot about gangs. There are gangs everywhere but the ones we hear about the most are the ones associated with the youth. I am going to be evaluating John Gerhardt’s Youth Gangs: An American Epidemic. By reading the article I already agree with what he has to say. It is about learning about gangs and how most of them are affiliated with races. If one wants to know how they operated then we must know that race can determine what each gang is and the beliefs in each gang. Some of what I picked up from reading the article is that they live in the environment of wanting respect and money relying on gangs and illegal activity to get them there. The three points I am going to evaluate will be guns, drugs and violence and how they are related with the youth gangs in the American society today. Gerhardt mentions “In American society, a crime epidemic is being carried by young adolescent teenagers, with the results usually being fatal” (32). I personally agree with these three things that Gerhardt has mentioned and that they can become super life changing, even fatal. How they can damage your life and put you places you do not want to be. How they influence one and how it could be the deciding factor in joining or being a part of a gang. In America a lot of people have guns, whether it be for hunting or just for the protection of their home. In gangs, a lot of the members carry guns just for the sole...
Words: 1365 - Pages: 6
...complexes located in the precinct. Based on the research I conducted on the Crime statistics the problem that the community is facing is truancy, and gang violence. The older generations tends to say that young children are the future. However, how can they be the future of society if they are never in school or getting involved in gang activities? The 113th precinct surroundings consist of a lot of building and very little privilege individuals who rely on the government. To make the world a better place it is very vital that students take heed of their studies in school. Bullying, personal matters, and bad influences can be blamed for the reasons why students decide to truancy. Being the Commanding Officer of the 113th precinct I would make some vital decisions. Decisions such as getting the community involved to help me solve the problems. I would ask individuals living in the community to encourage students to attend school and don’t leave ahead of time. I would place more officer on duty around or nearby each school so when students leaving they can be caught. Also I would tell my staff to ask students for their I.D and class schedule. Also I would try making it a rule /law that any students get caught truancy will be summoned to a fine. The fine will go up each time an individual is caught. This will deter students from leaving school because of the fear of getting caught and having to pay a fine. Teachers...
Words: 805 - Pages: 4
...Youth Violence November 14,2010 Youth violence is one of the most talk about and discussed problem in most city and schools around the country. The problem received increased public attention since the school shootings and violent acts that have occurred in recent years. It is a topic that is of great importance in class and people especially teachers should be well informed so that they will be prepared in dealing with these children involved in the violent acts. Violence among youth, especially in schools, is one of American society’s most pressing concerns. Violence is a learned behavior. Children often experience violence for the first time in their lives in their homes or in their community. This first taste of violence may occur with their parents, family members or their friends. Studies have shown that children who witness violent acts, either as a victim or as a victimizer, are more likely to grow up to become mixed up in violence. For many young people who have already developed a pattern of violent behavior, the probability that this way of life will endure into their adult lives is very likely. Aggression is often learned very early in a child's life. For the growing trend in youth violence to subside parents and many others must make every attempt to educate them selves and to apply methods that will reduce and ultimately prevent much of this violent behavior. (http://www.adherents.com/misc/violence.html) Violence among teenagers is on the rise, and has been...
Words: 732 - Pages: 3
...School Violence Violence in schools has spread widely throughout the nation. School violence is a big problem we are facing now. This has caused many problems among students, families’ faculty of schools and residents of the community. School violence includes gang activity, locker thefts, bullying and intimidation, gun use, assault, and drugs. In my paper I will discuss the reasons why violence in schools exists, describe the dangers and effects of school violence and what could or “should be done about it. There is definitely a problem with school violence today. The last 11 years have shown us that violence in our schools society is more common today than ever before. Whether the violence has to do with guns, knives, or just a simple fight, school violence is getting out of hand. In the United States, one-on-one public-school violence, such as beatings and stabbings or violence related to gang activity is more common in some densely populated areas, which tend to be impoverished sections of cities. According to the U S Department of Education, inner-city or urban schools were much more likely than other schools to report serious violent crimes, with 17 percent of city principals reporting at least one serious crime compared to 11 percent of urban schools, 10 percent of rural schools, and five percent of suburban town schools in the 1997 school year. Student-perpetrated school violence...
Words: 2202 - Pages: 9
