The U.S. Department of Justice has found a 5% increase in gangs and gang members over 7 years. This is a worrying trend. Yet, researchers have found ways to stop gangs from growing. A recent report from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs (OJJDP) explains why gangs form and how to stop them.
Key Takeaways
- Gang violence is a big problem in the U.S., with more gangs and members over time.
- Using a mix of community efforts, like schools and youth programs, can help stop gang growth.
- Things like mentoring, teaching how to solve conflicts, and helping with family and school issues can keep kids out of gangs.
- Working together with police, schools, and local groups is key to stopping gangs.
- It’s important to use a mix of ways to prevent, stop, and deal with gang violence.
Understanding the Reasons Why Youth Join Gangs
Young people join gangs for many complex reasons, often tied to social, emotional, and economic issues. It’s key to understand these reasons to fight the growing issue of gang violence effectively.
Protection, Enjoyment, Respect, Money, and Peer Influence
Being in a gang can make a young person feel more respected by their friends. It offers a sense of belonging and acceptance. Some are also attracted by the thrill and money from gang activities like drug dealing.
Many join for protection from other gangs or to feel safe. This is especially true for young people from less privileged backgrounds. They see joining as a way to feel secure and cared for.
Risk Factors for Gang Involvement
Being at risk of joining a gang can come from feeling left out or not fitting in. Being without parents, not feeling close to parents, or not doing well in school can also increase the risk. Hanging out with friends who are already in gangs, feeling bad about oneself, or using drugs can also lead to gang involvement.
Children who face many of these risks are more likely to join a gang as they get older.
Early Recruitment and Spread to Smaller Areas
Gang recruitment is starting earlier and earlier, even in elementary school. Gangs are no longer just a big city problem. They have spread to smaller towns and rural areas too.
Parents can help by keeping an eye on their kids, getting them involved in positive activities, and teaching them about the dangers of gangs. Community efforts, like local task forces and police work, can also help tackle this issue.
| Reason for Joining Gangs | Description |
|---|---|
| Protection | Seeking safety and security from other gangs or violence in their neighborhoods |
| Enjoyment | Attracted to the perceived excitement and thrill of gang activities, such as selling drugs |
| Respect | Desire to gain status and recognition among their peers, especially for young boys |
| Money | Lured by the potential financial opportunities associated with gang-related criminal activities |
| Peer Influence | Joining a gang because a friend or family member is already involved |
Risk Factors for Gang Involvement
Young people are more likely to join gangs if they act out, are aggressive, face family issues, struggle in school, or live in dangerous areas. These factors make them more prone to getting involved with gangs. It’s important to tackle these issues to stop gang involvement.
Delinquent Behaviors and Aggression
Studies show a strong connection between gangs and bad behavior, like using drugs. Young people who use drugs or alcohol illegally are more likely to join gangs. They also tend to use more drugs and alcohol after joining.
Family Instability
Having parents who have been in trouble with the law, being mistreated, or not having parents involved in their life can raise a youth’s risk of joining a gang. A violent home life is especially dangerous for girls who might join gangs.
School Problems
Not doing well in school, feeling disconnected from school, skipping school, or dropping out are big risks for joining gangs, especially for girls. Feeling unsafe at school also makes young people more likely to get involved with gangs.
Unsafe Communities
Living in areas with crime, easy access to drugs and guns, and lots of violence makes young people more likely to join gangs. For Aboriginal youth, issues like bad housing, high joblessness, and poverty add to the risk.
The more risk factors a young person faces, the more likely they are to join a gang. But, having positive things in their life, like good friends, a safe place, and strong rules, can help keep them out of gangs.
Community-Based Prevention Strategies
Stopping youth from joining gangs needs a mix of efforts. This includes making families stronger, keeping a closer eye on the community, and teaching important social skills. These strategies are key to keeping young people away from gangs.
Strengthening Families
Having strong, supportive families can really help prevent gang involvement. They give young people a sense of belonging and guidance. This helps them stay away from gangs.
Programs that offer family counseling and classes can make family bonds stronger. They also help families deal with challenges better.
Improving Community Supervision
Keeping a closer watch on the community can also help prevent gang involvement. Working together, community leaders, police, and groups that help young people can spot gang recruitment early. They can then step in to help.
This teamwork makes the community safer and keeps a closer eye on young people.
Teaching Interpersonal Skills
Teaching young people how to solve conflicts and manage their feelings can lower their chances of joining gangs. Programs that focus on communication and problem-solving give them the tools they need. This helps them handle challenges in a healthy way.
By using a wide-ranging approach, we can tackle the reasons why some youth turn to gangs. We can give them the support and skills they need to make good choices and have a brighter future.
| Program | Description | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Gang Desistance/Diversion | Supports gang members in desisting from gang activity | $2 million in FY 2019 |
| Youth Gang Suppression Implementation | Establishes a coordinated approach to suppressing youth gangs | $1.4 million in FY 2019 |
| Supporting Victims of Gang Violence | Provides victim assistance services | $3.2 million in FY 2019 |
“Prevention strategies to deter youth from joining gangs include strengthening families and schools, improving community supervision of youth, training teachers and parents to manage disruptive students, and teaching students interpersonal skills to help resolve conflicts.”
Addressing Elevated Risk Factors
Stopping gang violence needs a complex plan that looks at why young people join gangs. Communities should work on lowering the risks like bad behavior, being aggressive, unstable homes, school troubles, and dangerous places.
By focusing on these risks, we can stop young people from joining gangs. Studies show that gang violence often involves young adults, minorities, and males. Knowing this helps us make better plans to help.
Data from places like the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) is very useful. Since 2003, the NVDRS has tracked violent deaths, including gang-related ones. Gangs caused about 20% of all murders in big cities from 2002 to 2006.
| Risk Factor | Impact on Gang Involvement |
|---|---|
| Delinquent Behaviors | Gang affiliation was positively associated with engaging in any delinquent behaviors (prevalence OR: 2.07; 95% CI 1.18 to 3.64). |
| Aggression | Gang-related homicides were often more likely to occur on a street and in afternoon/evening hours. |
| Family Instability | Gang affiliation was negatively associated with moderate levels of parental monitoring (OR: 0.67; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.85). |
| School Problems | Gang affiliation was negatively associated with coping skills (OR: 0.54; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.71). |
| Unsafe Communities | Gang affiliation was positively associated with frequent alcohol use (OR: 2.62; 95% CI 1.85 to 3.72) and frequent drug use (OR: 1.95; 95% CI 1.15 to 3.29). |
By tackling these risks, we can create better ways to stop gang involvement. The research shows we need to use good methods to check if gang programs work.
Strengthening Family Support Systems
Strengthening family support systems is key to preventing gang violence. It means giving families the tools they need to deal with issues like parenting skills, stability, and helping youth develop positively.
The Strengthening Families Program I (SFP-I) is a big help for families. It started in 1983 and helps families with kids aged 6 to 12 whose parents are in treatment for substance abuse. It works well for families of different backgrounds.
This program is used in schools, churches, and social services. It offers rewards for coming to sessions, behaving well, and doing homework. These efforts lead to better family support, less conflict, and fewer risks for parents and kids.
Other programs in Philadelphia are also helping young people. The Leap Program at libraries helps with homework and learning computers. Philadelphia Futures prepares students for college with mentors and money help. The Healing Hurt People (HHP) program at Drexel University tries to stop young people from getting hurt again.
“The Strengthening Families Program has received endorsements as a model or promising program from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and OJJDP Blueprints Project.”
By focusing on family support and parenting programs, we can help families tackle the issues that lead to gangs and violence. These programs are based on solid research and are key to giving young people a safe and supportive place to grow.
| Program | Target Audience | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Strengthening Families Program I (SFP-I) | Families with 6- to 12-year-old children of parents in substance abuse treatment | Parenting skills, family stability, and positive youth development |
| Leap Program at Philadelphia Public Libraries | First through 12th graders | Homework assistance and computer literacy |
| Philadelphia Futures | High school students from low-income families | College preparation, mentoring, and financial incentives |
| Healing Hurt People (HHP) program at Drexel University | Youth ages 8-30 | Reducing reinjury and retaliation |
| YMCA academic support programs | 7th through 12th graders | Academic support |
Reducing Youth Conflicts and Improving Conflict Resolution
Learning how to solve conflicts is key to stopping youth violence and gang issues. Many programs now teach young people how to talk things out, solve problems, and handle their feelings. They use mediation and teach people skills to stop conflicts from turning violent.
Studies show that programs for older teens haven’t greatly reduced violent behavior. But, new efforts focus on younger kids, knowing it’s key to act early. These programs work on teaching non-violent values, improving social skills, and managing anger better.
Friends really shape how teens act, so we must look at group dynamics in stopping violence. Programs that tackle the “code of the streets” have shown promise in cutting down gang fights and crimes.
For real change, we need to commit to helping kids over the long term. Quick fixes often don’t stick. Working together, schools, police, and community groups, is key to offering the right help and resources to young people.
“The focus of the project was on strategies and approaches explicitly intended to reduce gun-related violence committed by young people between the ages of 10 and 25 who may also be associated with gangs/groups.”
By focusing on conflict resolution, youth violence prevention, and interpersonal skills, we can help young people deal with conflicts in a good way. This can lower the chance of them joining gangs.
gang violence prevention
Stopping gang violence needs a mix of prevention, intervention, and suppression. The Comprehensive Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Model has shown success. It was created in the late 1980s to tackle youth gang issues.
This model has five main strategies: Community Mobilization, Opportunities Provision, Social Intervention, Suppression, and Organizational Change and Development. In three cities – Chicago, Riverside, and Mesa – it led to less gang violence. Two cities also saw fewer drug-related crimes.
In Los Angeles, a version of this model also cut down on violent crime. The National Gang Center and the OJJDP Model Programs Guide have praised its effectiveness.
The model works by tackling the risks that lead to gang involvement. It looks at individual, family, school, and community factors. This way, it offers a full approach to fight gang violence and help young people.
Here are some key stats on the model’s success:
- 80% of gang-involved IPE clients reduce their involvement and activity
- 75% of youth clients maintained or improved their grades
- 100% of IPE clients at risk for gang involvement, but not already involved, remained non-gang-involved
These figures show the Comprehensive Gang Model’s power to help communities fight gang violence. It combines prevention, intervention, and suppression for lasting change. This approach is key to tackling the harm gangs cause on people, families, and communities.
Enhancing School Safety and Policies
Schools are key in stopping gang violence. Communities must work to make schools safer and have better policies. This means looking at “zero tolerance” policies to cut down on suspensions and expulsions. It also means training teachers and staff on handling tough students and gang issues at school.
Reviewing “Zero Tolerance” Policies and Providing Teacher Training
Many schools use “zero tolerance” policies, which can lead to automatic suspension or expulsion for certain actions. But research shows these policies can backfire, causing more students to drop out and pushing away those at risk. Instead, schools should look into restorative justice methods. These focus on solving the problems behind bad behavior and teaching students to make better choices.
Schools should also give teachers and staff training on gang prevention. This training should cover how to spot gang signs, calm down conflicts, and make a school where everyone feels included and valued.
“The use of a multidisciplinary school threat assessment team can help in identifying, assessing, and intervening with students who may pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.”
By making schools safer and having better policies, we can help students feel safer and support those at risk of joining gangs. This can lead to better grades and a stronger community feeling.
Providing Academic and After-School Support
Offering academic and after-school support is key in fighting gang violence. These programs keep youth engaged and steer them away from gangs. They provide a positive path through tutoring, mentoring, and structured activities.
About 11 percent of middle and high school students say gangs are in their schools. To tackle this, many places have started anti-gang efforts. For example, the Cleveland City School District saw a 39% drop in gang crimes and discipline over three years.
The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program has helped over 6 million students since 1991. It offers academic support, mentoring, and fun after-school activities. These help young people learn important life skills, bounce back from tough times, and feel they belong.
| Program | Impact |
|---|---|
| G.R.E.A.T. Program | Over 6 million students graduated since 1991 |
| Cleveland City School District Anti-Gang Initiative | 39% decrease in gang-related crimes and discipline incidents over 3 years |
Schools and communities can guide young people away from gangs with academic and after-school support. These programs are key in fighting gang violence and helping youth succeed. They are part of a big plan to tackle the gang violence problem.
“The crime rate can decrease by as much as 30 percent when a violence prevention initiative is a community-wide effort.”
– National Crime Prevention Council
Fostering Community Partnerships and Awareness
Stopping gang violence needs a team effort. This includes law enforcement, schools, and local groups. By building strong community partnerships and spreading gang awareness, they can make a solid plan to tackle gang issues.
Involving Law Enforcement, Schools, and Community Organizations
Police are key in fighting gang violence. But they work best with other community groups. Schools can team up with police to spot young people at risk and start multi-agency collaboration programs. Groups like youth centers and social services offer vital support and guidance to keep kids out of gangs.
By talking often, sharing info, and working together, these groups can stand strong against gangs. They can use their resources and plans to tackle gang causes and help the community fully.
| Community Partner | Contribution to Gang Violence Prevention |
|---|---|
| Law Enforcement | Enforcing laws, gathering intelligence, and partnering with other agencies |
| Schools | Identifying at-risk youth, implementing prevention programs, and providing educational opportunities |
| Community Organizations | Offering social services, mentorship, and support to youth and families |
By building these community partnerships and increasing gang awareness, communities can take a full and effective approach to gang violence.
Balancing Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Strategies
Fighting gang violence needs a mix of comprehensive gang prevention, intervention programs, and law enforcement suppression strategies. This approach tackles the complex reasons why young people join gangs. It aims to solve the problem at its core.
Prevention programs help young people at risk of joining gangs. They offer positive choices and help them stay away from gangs. Intervention programs work with young gang members. They provide services and sanctions to help them leave a life of crime behind. Suppression strategies focus on the most violent gang members. Law enforcement uses these to break up dangerous gangs.
The National Youth Gang Center says the best way to deal with gangs is by using all these strategies together. From 1996 to 2004, the number of gangs in the U.S. went down from 30,818 to about 24,000. But, the number of gang members stayed around 800,000. This shows we need a full approach to tackle the gang problem.
| Strategy | Focus | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Prevention | Youth at risk of gang involvement | Provide positive alternatives and equip youth with the skills to resist gang influence |
| Intervention | Younger gang-involved youth | Offer services and sanctions to help disengage from criminal activity |
| Suppression | Most violent and criminally active gang members | Utilize law enforcement resources to disrupt and dismantle dangerous gang networks |
Using these strategies together helps communities tackle gang violence at its roots. The OJJDP’s Comprehensive Gang Model suggests this approach. It can reduce gangs’ hold on young people and make communities safer and more resilient.
Federal Support and Initiatives
The federal government is working hard to tackle gang violence in the U.S. The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention funds programs. These programs aim to stop gang violence and stop gangs from recruiting new members.
OJJDP’s Comprehensive Gang Model and National Gang Center
The Comprehensive Gang Model is a key initiative. It helps law enforcement and community groups work together to fight gang violence. The National Gang Center shares information and best practices to help communities fight gangs.
These gang prevention programs help local communities, support families, and use proven strategies to keep youth out of gangs. Thanks to the OJJDP, communities get the tools and advice they need to tackle gang violence at its roots.
“The Department of Justice is committed to supporting communities in their efforts to prevent and reduce violent crime, including gang violence,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These historic investments will help strengthen local partnerships, expand proven prevention and intervention strategies, and provide critical resources to those most impacted by violence.”
The Comprehensive Gang Model and National Gang Center show the federal government’s dedication to fighting gang violence. They help make communities safer and more resilient.
Conclusion
Stopping gang violence needs a plan that looks at the deep reasons why people join gangs. It must also help families and communities, offer good choices for young people, and use a mix of prevention, help, and strict rules. Together, we can make neighborhoods safer and keep young people away from gangs.
The Gang Prevention Strategy (GPS) in Hamilton shows how important it is to use proven methods and involve the community. Thanks to funding from the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) and working with Living Rock, they reached many young people. But, keeping young people in these programs is still a big challenge.
We must keep using gang violence prevention strategies, community engagement, and youth development methods that work. By tackling the tough issues that lead to gang life, we can help young people choose better paths. This way, we can build a safer, brighter future for everyone.
FAQ
What are the most effective strategies for preventing gang violence?
Why do youth join gangs?
What are the risk factors for gang involvement?
What community-based prevention strategies are effective?
How can communities address the elevated risk factors for gang involvement?
How can strengthening family support systems help prevent gang violence?
What strategies can help reduce youth conflicts and improve conflict resolution skills?
What is the role of schools in gang violence prevention?
How can academic and after-school support programs help prevent gang involvement?
How can communities foster partnerships and increase awareness to address gang violence?
What is the balance between prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies?
What federal support and initiatives are available for gang violence prevention?
Source Links
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