The Criminal Street Gang Activity Essay - 947 Words

Many experts differ on the definition of what a â€Å"gang† is. Police use the term to refer to groups that hold and defend territory, or turf. Experts use the term to describe any congregation of youths who have joined together to engage in a delinquent act (Siegel Welsh, 2011). The State of Florida (F.S.S. 874.03) defines a Criminal Street Gang as â€Å"means 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† (Statutes Constitution, 2016). As children progress through adolescence they learn quickly who they get along with and who they don’t. They bond with certain groups of kids that they have things in common w ith. For some this need provides a social and emotional basis for antisocial activity transforming the clique into a â€Å"gang† (Siegel Welsh, 2011). Researcher Jeffery Fagan found that most gangs fall into one of four categories: 1. Social - few delinquent activities other than alcohol and marijuana. 2. Party – drug use and sales to finance drug use. 3. Delinquent – serious delinquent behavior avoiding drug use and dealing. 4. Organized – heavily involved in criminality. Gang violence. Many former gang members in theShow MoreRelatedPrison Gangs : The United States991 Words   |  4 PagesThe fact that prison gangs are not visible to the public makes them seem unknown to the public eye, however the pose the same threats to the United States as all other gangs. Prison gangs are also often written off and forgotten about by authorities due to fact that they are incarcerated. â€Å"Due to their seclusion from the public and their minimal visibility, prison gangs are difficult to target and are thus frequently overlooked as threat actors, which enables them to commit various crimes withoutRead MoreThe American Of American History Essay1523 Words   |  7 Pagescourse of American history, the usage of gangs has always been embedded in the striving desire to be rebel, such as defeating the overhanging stature of the British empire. However as the 13 colonies formed a colonial gang in an effort to el iminate British influence in America, the definition of the word gang has transformed into an entirely different meaning. One common definition of a gang is a group of three or more individuals who engage in criminal activity and identify themselves with a commonRead MoreThe Criminal Aspect of Social Media1360 Words   |  5 Pagesdays. Social media is now an essential communication method in today’s society. While this initial thought is correct, criminals have also adopted this medium and often use it to communicate and to further their illegal activities. As such, law enforcement needs to look at the various internet applications of social media as an open source information platform in which criminal intelligence can be gathered 24 hours a day. Failure to do so means key pieces of an investigative puzzle may be overlookedRead MoreEssay about Street Gangs in the United States1399 Words   |  6 PagesStreet gangs in this country can probably be traced back to the first wave of Europeans who migrated to the colonies for a better life for themselves and their families. Many of the first gangs were formed as a means of self protection, with the thinking that there is simply strength in numbers. The missions of gangs in today’s society have grown and emerged to include many violent criminal avenues, including drug trafficking, prostitution, money laundering, and extortion but the original thinkingRead MoreCriminal Activity in Salinas1695 Words   |  7 PagesWhy are we still plagued with gang violence and activities? What are the root problems for this increase in crime? What are the solutions? Before we can even try to come up with solutions to reducing and preventing crime would have to be understanding the factors behind the crimes that are plaguing Salinas California. We all know that the main reasons for crimes are gangs, but why do we have gangs. First of all the main reason we have gangs is because of the old gangs members that have become fatherRead MoreWhy Street Gangs Exist993 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The reason behind the street gangs has been largely associated with myriad of social and economic reasons. Among the reasons as to why youth join gangs are desperation due to poverty as well as breakdown of a family as a cohesive unit. According to the survey of gang areas, Los Angeles showed identical poverty map within the area. In ss much as there are some other reasons behind youth joining gangs, when critically analyzed it, reveals that such reasons are always directly or indirectlyRead MoreThe Police Criminal Intelligence Bulletin1705 Words   |  7 Pageslooking over one’s shoulder so that the gang will not hurt them or a family member. Gang Control Strategies To control gangs, law enforcement agencies have used preventive approaches, including community organization, social intervention, opportunity provision, suppression and organizational change (Spergel, 1990). Not unlike the ones that were talked about earlier. Suppression has historically been a major strategy used by police and involves targeting gang leaders and hard-core members for surveillanceRead Morere various reasons behind young people joining street gangs. One of the reasons young people800 Words   |  4 Pagesre various reasons behind young people joining street gangs. One of the reasons young people join street gangs is because of neighborhood disadvantages. A theory that can contribute to why young people might join street gangs is Social Disorganization Theory. Social Disorganization theory assumes that â€Å"delinquency emerges in neighborhoods where neighborhood relation and social institutions have broken down and can no longer maintain effective social controls (Bell, 2007).† Social DisorganizationRead MoreOperation Blue Rag, By San Diego1597 Words   |  7 Pageshave officers assigned to gangs on either a full-time or part-time basis. Their conclusions underscored the necessity for rapid, multi-agency, coordinated responses to control illegal gang activities (Torres, S. 1998). Operation Blue Rag, a program developed in San Diego, California, focused on the city s black street gangs, while Operation Red Rag, implemented the following year, targeted Blood or Piru gangs. They were both federally funded through the Urban Street Gang Drug Trafficking EnforcementRead MoreJuvenile Gangs Essay980 Words   |  4 PagesFinal Project Andrew Rodriguez CJ150 Kaplan College Mr. Templeton August 30.2012 Juvenile gangs have become a serious and growing problem in many areas throughout the U.S. It is unlikely that gang control strategies can be successful as long as legitimate economic alternatives are lacking. I will be exploring the possible proactive solutions to this social problem. Juvenile gangs on the street and in prison â€Å"Violent crimes committed by juveniles are not diminishing, as other crimes, as reported