...Girls and Gangs For much of history, gang members who are female have generally been left out of the equation. When both the layman and the researcher looked at gang life, gang members, and how they function, rarely have women and their role in gang culture been considered. However, women have long played important roles in gang life, culture, and membership, and the importance of such cannot be ignored. When women in gangs are studied, patterns emerge, the paths that often lead to gang life are able to be greater understood, and this understanding may lead to better practices in gang prevention and intervention. Women and girls have not been well-studied in relation to gang life until recently. According to Holsinger (2000), female delinquency has historically been ignored altogether, or researchers have tried to plug the female experience into theories formulated for males. Female roles in gangs were viewed as unimportant, and when they were studied, it was only in relation to their male counterparts (Campbell, 1990). Because the female experience is so much different from the male experience in a wide array of ways, it is important to take into consideration the different factors that may lead girls and women to pursue the gang life and join gangs. It is estimated that between 8-and-32% of gang members are female. That number has been disputed by several surveys, but as one researcher clarified, 32% of the jurisdictions surveyed did not even consider females as gang...
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...63% of female gang members that were surveyed left the gang due to pregnancy. Yet, these facts are controversial, to another study that found no such factor of motherhood to play a role (O'Neal, Decker, Moule, Pyrooz, 2014). Being part of the criminal justice system, can be a turning factor for female gang members. Being incarcerated can result in a more realistic approach in the life of a gag member (O'Neal, Decker, Moule, Pyrooz,...
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...Gang Membership Esmeralda Sinanovic Thomas Edison State College February 09, 2014 Gang Membership “According to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions, and up to 90 percent in others” (Gangs, n.d.). Such high numbers in crime involvement raise a concern. What are some characteristics of gangs? Gang members mostly are males with females being 20%-40% of gang members. According to NYGC 2012 survey most gang members are above age 18 with some as young as 11 years old with gang membership peak of 14 and 15 years old (Egley, Maxon, Miller, & Klein, 2014). When compared across area survey 1996-2011 surveys show that larger cities and suburbs where gangs have been for a long time, have more adult gang members than juvenile. Across all area types, the majority of law enforcement agencies report that African-American/black and/or Hispanic/Latino individuals predominate all gangs. (National Youth Gang Survey Analysis, n.d.). In early 1900s gangs were described based on their nationality while after 1950s gangs were identifies by race and ethnicity (Egley, Maxon, Miller, & Klein, 2014).Criminal behavior is the main characteristic of all gangs across all areas. The majority of crimes that gangs are involved are drug sales, aggravating assaults, robbery, firearm sales, breaking and entering, auto theft, and larceny. Researchers have brought forth theories on why youth joins...
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...than individuals who did not participate in any such discussion 3) Frederic Thrasher, “Isolation is common to almost every vocational, religious or cultural group of a large city. Each develops its own sentiments, attitudes, codes, even its own words, which are at best only partially intelligible to others." "Neighborhoods in transition are breeding grounds for gangs." 4) 5) Robert Park “Gangs are not confined to cities, nor to the slums of cities. Every village has at least its boy gang. Composed of those same foot-loose, prowling, and predacious adolescents who herd and hang together, after the manner of the undomesticated male everywhere.” 6) Motives for joining are boredom, defiance of authority figures, loyalty, adventure, money from trade or fear of being alone. 7) James Coleman, “A reservoir of resilience in some individuals that enables them to resist the allure of potentially damaging associates and activities.” 8) Yanblonsky on ‘near group’: “Diffuse role definitions, limited cohesion, impermanence, minimal consensus of norms, shifting membership, disturbed leadership, and limited definition of membership expectation.” 9) Purpose of graffiti: to...
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...The Growth Of Gangs Gang: A formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consists of three or more persons who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols and have two or more members who, individually or collectively, engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity. The key to the any gang definition is the phrase, "engage in criminal activity" or other similar wording. There are many legitimate fraternal groups, boys and girls clubs, sports teams and other organizations that have a common name and who may wear a particular uniform or articles of clothing. The first sight of gangs in Western Civilization was in 1873. Documentation of the existence of gangs in England during the 17th century and we speculate gangs may have been around earlier in the mother country. It does not appear though that gangs back then had any similar features of modern day street gangs. Organized gang crimes didn’t emerge until the 1600s. This is when gangs started wearing ribbons to distinguish themselves, and started terrorizing cities and people. Street gangs in the United States began with their presence on the East Coast around 1783. Nothing to serious until the 19th century did gangs really emerge. Four major regions of the United States began emerging quickly these were the Northeast, Midwest, West and South the reason...
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...Importance of Help for Juvenile Delinquents With the never ending problem of juvenile delinquency on the rise in United States, a solution to this problem has never been more important. Many of today’s youth actively and proudly engage in criminal activities, with much of it being spurred on by gang activity. The lack of structure within the lives of adolescents and lack of discipline has created a generation of unlawful, disrespectful delinquents that are difficult to successfully integrate into society. This column reviews three article that take an in depth look at what can cause this scenery to play out for youth and what some of the solutions may be to the problem. The first article examines the connection that has recently been discovered between level of functioning and the recidivism risk for offenders based on that. The second article takes a look into gang life and how the use of drugs within gangs plays a vital role in the ability of youth to successfully integrate into society. The third article reviews the developmental aspect of juvenile delinquency and how serious juvenile offenders are often overlooked in many studies dealing with mental health social disorders. Level of Functioning and Recidivism Shepherd, J. B., Green, K. R., Omobien, E. O., (2009). Level of functioning and recidivism risk among adolescent offenders. Adolescence. 40, 23-32. In this article the author’s main focus is that there should be more attention paid to the level of functioning...
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...perhaps the most significant feature of recorded crime * Higher propotion of female than males offenders are convicted of propert offences. Most males are convicted of violence/sexual offences * Males are more likely to repeat offenders and commit more serious crimes Do women commit more crime? They underestimate the amount of females as against females offending * Females crimes such as shoplifting are less likely to be reported * Even when women’s crimes are detected or reported, they are less likely to be prosecuted The chivalry thesis It argues that most criminal justice agents are men, and men are socialised to act in a chivalrous way towards women * Otto Pollack: men have a protective attitude towards women * Criminal justice system is more lenient with women and so their crimes are less likely to end up in oficial statistics, so gives and invalid picture exaggerating gender differences. Eg. males were 2.33 times more likely to admit committing crime, whereas oficial statistics shows males as four times more likely * Evidence * David Farrington and Alison Morris- study of sentencing 408 offences of theft in magistrates court * Women aapear to be treated more leniently, may be because offences are less serious * Box: women who commit serious offences are not treated more favourably tan men * Bias against women * Courts treat females more harshly tan males when they deviate from gender norms. Eg. * Double standards ...
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...violent, the rate of offending by females increased disproportionately, youth began entering the juvenile justice system at younger ages, and gang involvement became more prevalent. Recommendations for improving the juvenile justice system must take these changes into account. To establish a context for consideration of the future of the juvenile justice system, the workshop began with a presentation 1 of analyses of trends in juvenile arrests. The increase in juvenile arrests during the past decade driven by arrests for violent crimes -- raises concerns in light of the projected 30-percent increase in the number of 15- to 16-year-olds by 2010. While the juvenile arrest rate for property crimes remained stable during the late 1980's and early 1990's, the number of juvenile arrests for violent crimes was 67 percent greater than in 1986. Nonetheless, a relatively small percentage of juveniles are arrested for violent crimes. In 1995, the rate was 500 per 100,000, or less than one-half of 1 percent of the juvenile population. Moreover, the juvenile arrest rate for murder declined in 1994 and 1995. In 1994, 82 percent of all counties in the United States did not have even one juvenile charged with murder. Increases in juvenile crime since the mid-1980's reflect several trends in this country: shifts in the economy, the decline in the extended family and increase in single parenthood, access to more lethal weapons, and the growing role of gangs. Projected trends likely to affect...
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...influence the people involved in school violence, educators and administrative professionals roles in school settings and analyze surveys and other methods of research conducted on school violence in order to clearly define the term “school violence”. Morrison and Furlong give a brief overview of educators and administrative professional’s boundaries by explaining that these educationalists have the right to feel that their attention is best kept in the educational realm. Because of this their response to behavioral issues has become “hands-off”. However, unsupervised areas such as hallways and playgrounds are the places that school violence is most likely to occur because no professional administrator will take responsibility for them. The definitional boundaries by investigated the use of the term “school violence” are explained to have been increasingly researched at an alarming rate over the past 10 years. The authors explain that “it was not until 1992 that the label “school violence” itself was used widely as a term to describe violence and aggressive acts on school campuses”. The author’s also examine character qualities that may play factor in influencing school violence. These characteristics include gender, age and ethnicity/radical identification. Morrison and Furlong found that violent/aggressive acts by use of a firearm are predominantly committed by males rather than females. Also that forms of aggression are higher in junior high school and high school than in elementary...
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...10 Prison Subculture and Prison Gang Influence LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Discuss the prison subculture for inmates and correctional officers. 2. Compare importation theory with exportation theory. 3. Identify different aspects of prison culture that explain how offenders and officers view the world around them. 4. Discuss how professionalization and the diversification of correctional staff have impacted the prison subculture. 5. Discuss the impact that prison gangs have had on prisons, including the traditional prison subculture. 6. Identify the 13 gangs listed in this chapter as the primary prison gangs in the United States. 7. Explain what prison systems do to control gang problems that occur in their facilities. chapter I will stand by my brother My brother will come before all others My life is forfeit should I fail my brother I will honor my brother in peace as in war Aryan Brotherhood Oath INTRODUCTION This chapter provides students with a very unique aspect of the world of corrections. Students will learn that within the institutional environment, there is a commonality of experiences that arise between those who are involved; this is true for both inmates and staff. Indeed, many people may not be aware that, in fact, the mind and the world of the inmate often affect the mind-set of security personnel who work with the inmate. In essence, there is an exchange of beliefs and perspectives that often come together to produce a unique fusion...
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...Chapter 7. DELINQUENCY Juvenile among young people, as they negotiate the transition from childhood to adulthood in an increasingly complex and confusing world, is the issue that this chapter first examines. Some basic assumptions relating to delinquent behaviour are presented, followed by a description of the various factors underlying or contributing to this phenomenon. Some regional variations are highlighted. Effective approaches and measures for preventing juvenile delinquency are detailed, with particular attention given to the development of educational, professional development and community programmes, improvements in family relations and parenting skills, and the value of restorative justice for both perpetrators and victims. The chapter concludes with a summary and recommendations for future action. Delinquent and criminal behaviour For many young people today, traditional patterns guiding the relationships and transitions between family, school and work are being challenged. Social relations that ensure a smooth process of socialization are collapsing; lifestyle trajectories are becoming more varied and less predictable. The restructuring of the labour market, the extension of the maturity gap (the period of dependence of young adults on the family) and, arguably, the more limited opportunities to become an independent adult are all changes influencing relationships with family and friends, educational opportunities and choices, labour market participation...
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...Chapter 7. DELINQUENCY Juvenile among young people, as they negotiate the transition from childhood to adulthood in an increasingly complex and confusing world, is the issue that this chapter first examines. Some basic assumptions relating to delinquent behaviour are presented, followed by a description of the various factors underlying or contributing to this phenomenon. Some regional variations are highlighted. Effective approaches and measures for preventing juvenile delinquency are detailed, with particular attention given to the development of educational, professional development and community programmes, improvements in family relations and parenting skills, and the value of restorative justice for both perpetrators and victims. The chapter concludes with a summary and recommendations for future action. Delinquent and criminal behaviour For many young people today, traditional patterns guiding the relationships and transitions between family, school and work are being challenged. Social relations that ensure a smooth process of socialization are collapsing; lifestyle trajectories are becoming more varied and less predictable. The restructuring of the labour market, the extension of the maturity gap (the period of dependence of young adults on the family) and, arguably, the more limited opportunities to become an independent adult are all changes influencing relationships with family and friends, educational opportunities and choices, labour market participation, leisure...
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...helps society understand the delinquent behavior based on gender roles, class, race, and ethnicity. As stated before males and females learn to engage in criminal activity based off their association. When comparing Gender based theory to social learning theory, a good example would be the way media portray females oppose to males. Female delinquency is a product of what is seen in the media. The actions displayed in the media by females are observed and translated into ill behaviors, which creates deviant...
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...identification of the proportion of youth in the community who claim gang membership or who are at high risk for gang membership. School-level data and information from school staff are vital to rounding out the picture of gang activity in the community. This chapter provides guidance on collecting data on the following: Student characteristics and disciplinary actions School-aged youths’ perceptions of gangs and gang activity (student survey) School staff perspectives on gang activity on campus Prevalence of Gangs in Schools In the mid-1990s, 28 percent of the national sample of students reported that gangs were present in their schools (Chandler, Chapman, Rand, and Taylor, 1998). This number dropped to 17 percent in 1999 and then increased to 24 percent in 2005, almost the level reported a decade earlier (Dinkes, Cataldi, Kena et al., 2006). Thus respondents to the national survey of students reported a decrease in gang activity in the late 1990s and an increase in the opening years of this century. Impact of Gangs in Schools Where they have a substantial community presence, youth gangs are linked with serious delinquency problems in elementary and secondary schools across the United States (Chandler, Chapman, Rand, and Taylor, 1998). This study of data gathered in the School Crime Supplement to the 1995 National Crime Victim Survey documented several examples. First, there is a strong correlation between gang presence in schools and between both guns and availability of drugs...
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