GANGS

What is a 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.” - 874.03 (1)

Gangs in the US An estimated 24,500 gangs exist in the US 772, 500 active gang members Mostly males ages 15-17 Cities with emerging gang problems report more females and more mixed race/ethnic groups than those with long term gang problems 2000 Youth Gang Survey

Characteristics of Florida Gangs Characteristics of Hispanic Gangs Characteristics of Florida Gangs Generally modeled after LA gangs Loosely organized Turf oriented Graffiti Colors Hand signs

Graffiti

Getting In Jumped in “Everybody sets the rules: not to hit in the face and to wrestle. The 1st person on the ground –that was it. You don’t continue fighting.”

Why join? What are the pressures that push youth towards gangs? What does a gang have to offer our youth? What important needs are being met through gang membership?

When does it start?

What are the pressures that push youth towards gangs? Family, Peer Community, School Individual

Impoverished Communities Chronic unemployment or underemployment Drugs and weapons easily available Gangs, Crime and violence become “normalized” Institutionalized prejudice/racism

Family Stress Unstable/broken home Economic instability Low educational attainment & expectations Alcoholism/drug abuse Family members in gang Parent/sibling criminality Neglect Violence Verbal, physical, sexual abuse “I never get along with my father…he used to beat my mom, you know. And I didn't like that stuff and I used to fight with my dad too. I used to fight him too when I seen my mom fighting with him. When I was real skinny and tiny he used to grab me from my throat and put me down on the floor like nothing...like a piece of trash”. - Cristopher

Impoverished Schools Under-funded, under-staffed, under-resourced Disorganized Limited enrichment courses Zero-tolerance policy

Developmental Theory of Gang Membership Community, Family, Individual, School, Peer Domains Preschool Aggression, defiance School entry Aggression, defiance, conduct disorder, negative early school experience, lack of pro-social peer group Adolescence Low educational achievement, lack of school bonding, aggression, defiance, violence, delinquency, gang membership

What does the gang offer? Money: “I used to poor, real poor. I used to be wanting to have the money because when you be having the money people be respecting you.” Fun: “You chill with all your friends, go to parties, you got a rack of girls” Girls Escape: “Problems at home” Power: ”Nobody touch you” Respect: “You don’t be scared of nobody” Protection Fame Escape - the number one reason young people tell me that they join gangs is to get away from problems at home. Often, these kids would rather sleep in the streets than go home. Power - another way of saying ‘the ability to instill fear’, not only in school and in the neighborhood, but also in family members. One gang member told me that his stepfather used to beat him and his mom all the time. Until he joined the gang. Power. Respect - goes along with power. Peers, residents, family members have to show respect. Disrespect is a common instigator of violence. Protection - From other gangs in the neighborhood, bullies. Many gangs in immigrant communities form out of protection, often their ethnic group is the minority in their schools and communities. Fame - Ah, how many of us didn’t want to be famous when we were young? For many of these young people, there is a deep need for recognition. Crazy or violent behavior quickly builds a reputation. Money - Very important. The majority of gang involved youth come from impoverished communities where there is little economic opportunities for them. Drug selling, theft, robberies yield much more money than flipping burger at the local fast food joint. Fun - Many of these kids have nothing to do. Girls!

What needs are met by gang membership? Love and acceptance Structure Esteem and self worth Empowerment Status Support Recognition A sense of belonging and commitment The need for unique/special identity collective identity/group membership individual identity “So I said, ‘what the hell, I’m in the street. I ain’t doing shit. I ain’t worth shit. Let me change my life around’...So I started selling that crazy shit [cocaine]. Then I got more into the gangs because then I had money, clothes. I became a member of La Raza. I was the man then…nice clothes, nice perfume, Versace and shit”. - Chino

Profile of a Gang Member Apathetic/Fatalistic Limited education Criminal past Substance use No work history Teenage parent Weak family bonds/support Tattooed Dialogue/mannerisms

Strategies appropriate for developmental stages Window of opportunity – ages 7-14 FFT, MST, Strengthening Families Program Intensive case management Academic enrichment/tutoring Mentoring Pro-social peer groups – recreation, skill building

Strategies appropriate for developmental stages Ages 15-18 – Patience and Tenacity Street outreach & intensive case management that is long term & consistent Multidisciplinary Intervention Team Opportunities provision – Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Outreach Street Outreach Case management Court Mediation Crisis response Community service Referrals

Multidisciplinary Intervention Team Outreach Worker & Intervention Specialist Juvenile Probation Officers Trust Counselor - NMB Senior High Asst. Principal - JFK Middle NMB Police Dept - Gang Unit Dept. Children & Families GUESS Program Case Managers Dade School Police

Online Resources National Youth Gang Center http://www.iir.com/nygc/ National Gang Crime Resource Center http://www.ngcrc.com/ National Alliance of Gang Investigators Association http://www.nagia.org/ Florida Gang Investigator Association http://www.fgia.com/home.htm Gangs Or Us http://www.gangsorus.com/ The Coroner's Report http://www.gangwar.com/