Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

Gangs and Gang Violence

Over the last 20 years in the city of Los Angeles at least 10,000 African American and Latino young men have died due to gang activity and gang warfare (Vigil, 2002). As large as that figure is it is still only a portion of the deaths attributable to gang violence in the United States. Although several studies have been done on the nature of gangs and gang warfare, few have been done on the various reasons that teenagers and children join gangs. This paper will review and critique five studies on gangs and gang violence in light of the question: What causes a teenager or child to join a gang.

In reading over the five studies included for this paper at least three of the researchers pointed out that entrance into a gang started between the ages of 9-11 years old (Knox, 2002; Hill, Howell, Hawkins & Battin-Pearson, 1999; Sirpal, 1997). These same studies also pointed to a need for children and teenagers to feel as if they belonged somewhere. Belonging to a gang helped to fulfill this need, especially if the gang members belonged to families that neglected, abused, or ignored them. In particular, it seemed that those least at risk for joining a gang had two parents living at home who were consistently involved in their family, church and community. Additionally, being a victim of bullying, which leads to being a bully, was also a factor a child or teen joined a gang (Knox, 2002; Hill, et al.,1999; Sirpal, 1997).

Other studies also indicated that although gang involvement usually begins before puberty, most of the organization and plans were orchestrated by adults, who also recruited children and teenagers from their families and neighborhoods (Knox, 2002). Furthermore, as gangs "matured" in organization and average age, the crimes used to support the gangs went from theft to drug sales to arson and terrorist type activities, expanding in scope and market, just as any other business would (Knox, 2002; National Gang Crime Re...

Page 1 of 5 Next >

More on Gangs and Gang Violence...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
Gangs and Gang Violence. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 14:11, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1709761.html