Youth gang problem in California

Juvenile offenders are the nation's fastest growing crime problem. While adult violent crime rates have remained fairly steady over the past decade, juvenile offenses have soared. A study by the U.S. Department of Justice reveals that in 1994 approximately 500 arrests were made per 100,000 juveniles (age 10-17) compared to 250 arrests per 100,000 adults (Gest 29). News reports of teenagers commiting violent crimes like murder no longer shock the viewing audience. Only pre-teen criminals capture the public's attention. For instance, a two-year-old girl was killed by boys aged 6 and 10 years old in rural Ohio. And, more recently, a 6-year-old boy in Richmond, California allegedly broke into a home and beat a baby nearly to death. Currently, youth under 18 account for about 20 percent of America's crime (Gest 30). As more and more juveniles commit violent crime, society is questioning the wisdom of the system's traditional emphasis on rehabilitati

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easing number of females among the Asian and Hispanic youth population are forming their own gangs, unlike the traditional female role of being on the fringe of male gangs (Crime and Violence Prevention Center 3). Although most California gangs generally segregate themselves according to ethnic identity, within that identity gangs are formed according to street, neighborhood, or housing project where they live, or according to cult that they follow. Some of California's suburbs are experiencing as much gang activity as its central cities. A study of two suburban cities in the Los Angeles metropolitan area (Pasadena and Pomona) revealed that these two cities had more gang members and more gang homicides than similar mid-sized, suburban cities across the nation. The study analyzed Pasadena and Pomona in relation to a comparison group of 37 other midsized cities, with populations ranging from 100,000 to 300,000. Pasadena and Pomona had 32 and 14 separate gangs, respectively, compared to only 23 gangs in all the 37 other cities combined (Maxson 3). Gang identity is important, and can often lead to violence. Gang members often project an arrogant or aggressive attitude, and attempt to intimidate others, particularly rival ga
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Approximate Word count = 1716
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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