Youth in Gangs

Gangs will continue to be an issue for the community. Anyone can form a gang and get involved. A youth gang, according to The National Youth Gang Center, is defined as a self-formed association of peers, anywhere from 3 or more members, that shares the same name and sense of identity. They have some degree of organization and highly engage in delinquent activity. Research, based off of large longitudinal studies, does show that numerous risk factors are likely to predict if a youth will join a gang.  These risk factors are grouped into 5 areas: individual, family, school, peers, and community. The higher the number of risk factors from each area, the higher the chance the youth is at risk of joining a gang.  

Those who affiliate with gangs are more likely to face problems in school, commit more crimes, and become victimized.  School engagement percentage, as far as attitude toward school, other student, and faculty, are lower compared to non-gang youth at the state and local level. A smaller percentage of gang youth feels safe at school. They are more likely to have school problems and difficulty getting along with the faculty and other students.

Surveys done at the national level shows that youth involved in gangs do demonstrate higher delinquent and violence acts. For example, 62% have reported to engage in serious fights one or more times compared to 18% of non-gang youth.   21% of gang youth have shot or stabbed someone versus 1% for non-gang.

You assume that gang members join gangs because of protection and safety.  It is the idea that someone has my back.  However, gang members are actually more likely to be victimized compared to non-gang youth at the national, state, and local level.  They are at a higher risk to be threatened or injured with a weapon.  Gang affiliation does make you more probable to be targeted by other gangs.

Clearly, these facts and statistics show that youth who join gangs are more likely to engage in criminal activities and have more problems in school.  Youth who affiliates with a gang only makes it worst on their behalf.  Sending them home and a phone call to the parent won’t fix the problem. Frustration can led them to not caring about school and dropping out. They will need the extra assistance so they can understand and learn.  With nothing but time on their hands, it could lead them to carrying out more delinquent acts. School, secondary to home, is a huge component of the youth’s life.  It is where they learn how to interact with other people and become knowledgeable in society.   

Reference:

Glesmann, C., Krisberg, B., Marchionna, S. (2009). Youth in Gangs. Who is at Risk?.  Focus Views from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.  Retrieved from http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pdf/Youth_gangs_final.pdf

A Silent Cry for Help

There is no agreeable answer as to why juveniles become delinquent.  According to Peter Greenwood and colleague, delinquent children are more likely to come from troubled families and neighborhoods. They’re also likely to engage in drug use and have issues in school. (League of Women). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  stated on “The Crime Problem” report in 1954  that poor home conditions are a common cause among the delinquent juveniles. This includes coming from a broken home where both or the one of the parent is absent due to divorce, separation, or death. The home is inadequate because they’re living in poverty and the parents’ lack in parenting skills. (Congressional Digest).

 

The common strategy in finding out why juveniles engage in delinquent acts is investigating into their lives.  A child’s life consists of many factors that can have positive or negative effect on them.  First and most importantly, we should look  into the family and their home. It can start as early as being in the womb of the mother.  All the nutrients the baby gets for 9 months comes from what the mother takes during the pregnancy.  If the mother uses drugs or alcohol, the baby does too. Neglect, whether done consciously or not, is something that does happen more often than we expect.

 

Most delinquent juveniles do come from poor neighborhoods who are mostly minorities. They lack in the most resources compared to any other class.  Drug dealing is a common criminal activity in this  kind of neighborhood because it’s fast easy money that does not require an education. The street is also where they learn their delinquent behaviors. The exposure of being  around other delinquent neighborhood children can lure them into doing the same thing.  They’ll end up joining the gangs and carry out more delinquent acts as they become more involved.

Children are a learning machine always curious about the world.  Teach them correctly the first way, and it will only do them good. Provide them with the resources and attention they need, and they will have the tools to become successful.  It’s not impossible to reduce the recidivism rates among juveniles. Children will show some sort of sign. When they do, it’s a matter if anything is going to be done about it. For them, engaging in delinquent behavior is a silent cry for help because they can’t tell the difference between right or wrong.

Reference:

Congressional Digest. (1954). Conditions Conducive To Youth Crime. The Congressional Digest. 291-301.

League of Women Voters of California Education Fund. (1996). Perceptions on the Causes of Juvenile Delinquency. Retrieved from http://ca.lwv.org/jj/causes.htm