Street Gangs

Street mobs ar genuinely common in the States and especi eachy amongst Afri piece of tail Ameri discount populations. The report of thoroughf be cliques can be traced back to the 1930s when African Americans were undergoing contend moments considering that it was an era of bulky racial discrimination. Different passage rabble ups have contrary names for instance, famous path bearing gangs in the US included The Kelleys, The device driver Brothers, The Boozies as whole few as The Magnificents .Activities of much(prenominal) gangs evolved from force out, robbery, drug dopeing, and prostitution to hiding missions. In addition, highway gangs have been usu totallyy com be of insubstantials. Composition of the thoroughfargon gangs has always been some peers such as friends, sisters or brothers. Although route gangs pretermit clear ideology in the struggle for black liberation pathway gangs were seen as the voice of black struggle within the black federation and very(prenominal) little was done by the club of interests to assume with the caper of way gangs.Today, track gangs have various descriptions depending on who is defining them. For instance, a researchers definition is various from a patrol definition and definitions have varied from author to author with divers(prenominal) authors giving different definitions for street gangs. For example (Skogan, 1990) defined street gangs as groups of teenagers who congregate approximately street corners not inevitably for covert missions but in like manner beca wasting disease of companionable pressures such as lack of shelter (Sarnecki. 2001).another(prenominal) author, Sheriff and Sheriff (1964) defined street gangs as an elaborate network of young persons whose goal is to violate the fair playfulness (Sarnecki. 2001). This shows how greatly the topic of street gangs has been surrounded by mystery in America. However, on that point is agreement that street gangs in America are largely networks of large number with a loosely threaded ideology which is temporary. In addition, membership to street gangs is never permanent as the street gangs have very stiff code of conduct which very much see members fall apart.In addition, street gangs cut off across racial, religious, national and ethnic backgrounds and today, unlike before the definition of street gangs goes beyond black gangs (Jennifer Lee, Min chow chow, 2004). Street gangs have a way of identifying themselves which is distinct from other competing gangs. For instance, each gang in America has their ill-tempered label of clothing or shoes which is only specific to that gang and allone found to be employ the equal label outside the gang membership is often met with punishment which can include lynching or assault and in some cases, death (Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou, 2004).Street gangs also usance specific types of tattoos on their bodies to further define themselves and as a run differentiate th emselves from other competing gangs (Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou, 2004). Also common amongst street gangs is the habit of hand signals which are unique to members of the stipulation street gang and is a way of communication, identity and a sign of loyalty to the particular street gang. Street gangs also have their unique communication styles embedded in both verbal and non-verbal use of language and this is further used to march on the culture of the givens street gangs.As mentioned earlier, street gangs are rarely permanent in terms of the duration which members last in the gang. Leadership of street gangs is often autocratic and oppressive, something which is responsible for the rampant fallout amongst members which makes it very difficult for members to curb long in the groups. Another accompanimentor which defines street gangs in American is the fact that all street gangs have their turfs which they control and match both effort by constabulary or other police force enforce ment agents to discard them.As a result, street gangs serve to mannequin part of the life of the theater of operations where they occupy, something which has conduct to the spread of gang life especially practices such as drug ill-treatment, prostitution and violence in the areas occupied by street gangs (Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou, 2004). Another factor, which defines street gangs in America, is the fact that all are involved in woeful activities and rarely do street gangs claim themselves in any constructive activity apart from some form of art such as rap music .It is generally sure that street gang is a problem which is not only a terror to social order but also to national security. In the advent of terrorism, the practice of law and other law enforcers cannot leave anything to chance when it comes to addressing loopholes in national and homeland security. To that end, several policing strategies, new legislations and other changes have been enforced in America to not o nly address the danger posed by external aggression but also the potence of threats within the United States of America. Street gangs are known to carry out any business for money indiscriminately.Therefore it does not matter whether it is a terrorist that the gang is working for. All that matters to a gang is that it forms a source of income. To counter the potential of street gangs posing a significant threat to homeland security, the police have moved as a measure to train the street gangs within their territories. As mentioned earlier street gangs interlock strictly on their territories and rarely do they move to new locations. This has presented an opportunity to the police to contain and deal with street gangs in a more localized manner.To check out that the influence of street gangs does not spread widely into the community the police have come up with a scheme of road patrols which are made to make the community safer and secure. This is made to counter the possibility of gangs using the roads to harm their victims or to filter fear amongst the members of the community. This has greatly worked well(p) although it has been faced with the problem of racial profiling, given the fact that members of racial minorities are often targeted by police searches aimed at countering street gangs.However, to a great deal, police road patrols have raised the level of security until now in areas where street gangs are common. Another strategy has been to use technological power to deal with street gangs. This has seen the police use sophisticated weapons to fight street gangs whenever confrontations occur and to understand that the police always remain in control. The police in most states have strategic plans which have seen police set up traffic checks along major roads aimed at ensuring that gangs activity is limited.The fact that most gangs trade in narcotics means that police have to strengthen their anti-narcotics units to decapitate the ability of str eet gangs to carry on illegal drug trade. This has seen the police work closely with intelligence, local community leaders as well as religious bodies to ensure that any member of the society is involved in engagement street gangs. Another great change in law enforcement agencies that has resulted from street gangs activities in America is the introduction of community policy. Unlike conventional policing, community policing is proactive, less election laden and problem-solving .As a result of community policing, violence and drug abuse incidences have importantly dropped in the community level. However, it is worth noting that community policing requires instruction of local community members to equip them to deal with the sophisticated nature of curse in the society. The fact that police departments lack enough imagerys has seen a soggy implementation of community policing as a strategy of law enforcement. Nonetheless, community policing has led to a decrease in fear level s amongst community members .Although primitively community policing was motivated partly by the threat of street gangs in the community, community policing has turned out to be rough-and-ready in fighting even offense which is unrelated to street gangs. The strategy of community policing revolves around training of community members to equip them with the necessary tactics and knowledge to deal with umbrage, establishing of stations at the community level, increased foot patrols of police officers, as well as brainstorming dallyings between community members and police in a bid to encourage citizen participation in fighting offense .It is worth noting that policing strategies, laws and other changes aimed at dealing with the problem of insecurity is largely based on state administration. This therefore means that different states use different approaches to fight with levels of abuse considering the fact that different states have different security needs. For instance New Yo rk policing strategies is aimed at tackling crimes such as state-supported drunkenness, raging crimes as well as prostitution. This therefore shows that the nature of bend issues facing a state may vary and therefore may dictate the types of policing strategies.In addition, New York State is faced with a high threat of terrorism than the threat of street gangs for example. This therefore means that the changes and strategies by law enforcement agents have been broadly aimed at dealing with threats specific to that state . In chapiter DC for example, there are gang legislations which have been specifically enacted to deal with the problem of gangs. This has attracted more funding aimed at presenting law enforcement agents efforts to deal with prevention of gang activities in Washington.The availing of funds has seen the police and other law enforcement agents become more capable of dealing with the problem of gang violence, which is planted in the State. The legislation has al so allowed for funding of intervention measures and programs, which have seen the community, have sex safer neighbourhoods. Other changes aimed at dealing with the problem of street gangs in Washington DC have included the imposition of tough penalties for street gang members who are caught participating in violent crimes . This approach has seen the threat of violent street gangs decrease significantly in Washington DC.However, it is worth noting that all efforts geared to fightds dealing with the problem of insecurity and particularly street gang activities need to be integrated into federal laws so as to ensure that the state is able to fully address the challenge. Such legislation such as the companion legislation is aimed at devising sure that there is the availability of funds to deal with lawlessness. In addition, the legislation aims at making sure that the police and other law enforcement agents are able to meet the challenge as well as effectively deal with violence befo re it becomes widespread (Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou, 2004).Efforts to deal with the threat of violent street gangs has moved from the preventive level to correctional facilities by empowering correctional officers to bewilder in place reform measures aimed at rehabilitating street gang offenders. It can be give tongue to that the tough laws have been largely successful in not only dealing with violent street gangs but also in increasing the level of security in the neighborhoods (Sarnecki, 2001). Not all policing strategies or new laws have been successful in dealing with crime.However, some strategies such as road policing strategy have been effective ascribable to its ability to prevent crime at the neighbourhood level. Other strategies or changes such as enhanced penalties have to some degree failed given the fact that the prisons where such offenders are sent to are not necessarily effective in correcting the demeanor of the offenders and therefore when such street gangs or any other offenders come out of the prisons they usually live with the same malefactor activities.Forfeiture is a strategy aimed at decapitating not only street gangs but other criminals of their ability to coordinate and execute criminal activities. Laws permitting the forfeiture of profits gained from criminal activities have made it contingent for law enforcement agents to appropriate property of criminals and therefore making sure that it becomes very unattractive for criminals to stick around with their crime activities (Sarnecki, 2001).Another change or strategy which can be said to have resulted from the threat of street gangs is the initiation of gangs data bases which makes it possible for law enforcement agents to trace criminals with this (Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou, 2004) This also allows for easy monitoring of released criminals to monitor whether such have reformed. Having gang data bases also enables the easy exchange and communion of information amongst law enforceme nt agents. Another change in the law enforcement agencies, which has been occasioned by the threat of street gangs, is the adoption of information technology systems .The introduction of information technology use amongst law enforcement agents has seen a dramatic increase in the ability of law enforcement agents to counter the activities of gangs. This has also made it very possible to collect data on criminal activities. Information technology has led to the quick exchange of information and intelligence on security issues, which significantly has boosted the ability of the law enforcement agents to prevent crime. Information technology has made it very hard for the gang members as well as other criminals to infiltrate law agencies, something which can jeopardize the effectiveness of law agents.Another strategy, which has been initiated to deal with crime in America, is the empowerment of law enforcement agents (Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou, 2004). This has been done through providing t hem with dampen equipment as well as training which makes it possible for law enforcement agents to operate with a high level of efficiency. Lack of capacity can greatly impact negatively on the war against crime. Therefore the move to empower law enforcement agents must be seen as one of the most effective changes ever in dealing with organized crime.If the war against crime is to be won, a combination of the above mentioned strategies and changes must be implemented. For instance, having legislations however good, without having a capable human resource to enforce the legislation is likely to deed over not better than meager results. The war must be sustained, centre and the aims should be well defined. Clearly, the strategies must address the root causes of criminal behaviour and activities. This should not be left to law enforcement agents alone.Violent behaviour has been found to be caused by a myriad of factors namely social factors, economic factors, governmental factors, religious factors and cultural factors. This indicates that the changes and strategies must cut across socio-cultural issues as well as economic, political and religious dimensions. There is an increasing trend of juvenile violence in America. This is a clear indication that there is a social crisis which must be addressed not necessarily by law enforcement agencies but by other departments such as childrens department.In the past, efforts to deal with violent crime have tended to be reactive as opposed to proactive. If this approach is not changed, there is a high likeliness that a lot of resource bequeath keep on organism wasted due to using of the wrong strategies to fight lawlessness. Indeed, crime is not a war that can be won by law enforcement agencies only. Hence the reason wherefore all efforts geared towards reducing criminal activities in the American society should be multisectoral. The introduction of community policing strategy is particularly encouraging.However, i t is sad that most legislation aimed at curbing street gang crimes or other forms of crimes in the society have tended to spring up from criminal justice. Given the fact that crime is influenced by other factors such as economic factors, there is a need for legislations based on economic principles such as equitable distribution of resources especially to the marginalised communities to be enacted. Such legislations will see youths from the marginalised groups empowered economically and perhaps abstain from joining street gangs or any other forms of crimes.Educational reforms or legislations can also be a great intervention measure in dealing with crime in the society. This is true considering the fact that there is a direct positive correlation between involvement in criminal activities and the level of education. Therefore, empowering people and especially the youths through education is likely to reject a good number from participating in crime. There is a need for education t o reach every single youth in America as a way of empowering the society. If this is realized it will be an effective and less costly way of dealing with the problem that crime has become in the society.There is a need for more research to be commissioned to deal with the issue of street gangs in America. It appears that one of the reasons why law enforcement agencies have been slow in winning the war is the fact that most of the decisions made concerning how to deal with street gangs in America are not based on empirical evidence but instead on egoistic feelings of politicians. Until the law enforcement agencies realise the power of research in dissecting social problems, street gangs and other violent crimes are likely to continue threatening the American society.In addition, there is the possibility that a lot of resources will be wasted and there will be no resource to show for it. In conclusion, it can therefore be said that the war changes in street gangs in America have had an impact on law enforcement agencies in regard to the type of strategies the police have come up with, laws which have been put in place to deal with crime as well as the resources allocated to the fight against crime. Reference George, L, K and Coles, C. M. 1997. mess Broken Windows Restoring Order and ReducingCrime in our Communities. 88. Simon & Schuster. New York. Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou 2004. Asian American Youth Culture, Identity, and Ethnicity Routledge. United States. Jerzy, Sarnecki. 2001. Delinquent Networks Youth Co-offending in Stockholm. Cambridge University Press. 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