Gang Stories
For this assignment, you will analyze the life of someone who has been involved in a gang. You can use the video in the link below, or you can use your own life experiences if you or someone you know has been involved in gangs.
My story; from gangland daughter to star teacher
https://www.ted.com/talks/pearl_arredondo_my_story_from_gangland_daughter_to_star_teacher
Use the information on page 125 of your textbook (Table 5.2) to start your analysis of Pearl Arredondo’s life story, your own story if you have been affected by gangs, or someone you know. Then write a 4-6-page paper answering the following questions:
How was she able to rise above crime, delinquency, and gang life?
Identify at least four factors that you believe are important for one to understand the origins of the juvenile’s delinquent behavior.
What protective factors helped Pearl Arredondo (or the person in your own story)?
What risk factors did she face?
Apply at least two research-based early intervention programs described in Chapter 9 that Pearl Arredondo could use in the school program she created.
Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources. You may research local, federal and state statues in your state to illustrate your point. The Strayer Library at research.strayer.edu is an excellent place to start.
The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:
Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.
Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
Course Objectives:
Critically analyze the historical rise in power of gangs and gang affiliation.
Demonstrate knowledge of the numerous effects, including addiction, of drugs, which motivate the market.
Discuss the historical laws associated with illegal substances.
Distinguish the difference among Italian, Irish, Asian, Russian, and other crime syndicates.
Clearly differentiate between productive and non-productive law enforcement strategies used to address the drug problem in America.
Examine the activities, motivation, operations, logistics, and finances associated with the world drug trade and the relation to gang and organized crime cultures.
Assess release and reentry considerations for criminal offenders.
Gang Stories
A gang is a group of two or three people, an association, neighborhood friends or family members that have a leader and claim control over certain territories in their communities. They engage in illegal activities, and most of them are violent, they also conduct these activities individually or as a group. Gang activities arose in the 19th century and highly increased in the 20th century. They originated mostly in the poor areas of the cities, most of these gangs arose as a result of wanting to protect their community territory leading to a group of people coming together and forming these groups. Others were formed as a result of the need to protect themselves from the existing gangs. In the 1970s and ‘80s narcotics became widespread in the streets and firearms were easily accessible this made the groups more violent. They were involved in robberies, burglaries, murder, drive-by shootings, narcotics trafficking, and assaults.
Through terrorizing their communities, assaults and strong-arm burglary these gangs obtain and gained a reputation of being the fiercest and the most feared groups around. These increases their power and attracts others to join the groups making them most powerful. These groups are then divided into smaller ones and distributed all around the city. The gangs establish trademarks to identify themselves. It could be a tattoo, hand sign or a specific color that each member of the group should have. These individuals mostly ranged from age 14years to 25years. Each member is ready to die for the group. One could also increase their reputation by the number of time they have been imprisoned, stabbed or shot, they are known as the veteranos. These veteranos are always involved in leadership of the gangs (Grabianowski, 2006).
Drugs affect both the body and the mind, different drugs have different effects and these can either be short term or permanent. They can be administered through ingestion, injection or inhalation. Injected drugs go directly to the bloodstream while the others have a bit delayed impact. These drugs affect how the brain works and also one’s ability to make choices. These drugs affect the part of the brain that is responsible for emotions and mood, making them be produced in high amount than normal. These lead to intense cravings and compulsive drug use resulting in substance dependence. This dependency on drugs motivates gangs in the market since they smuggle, transport and distribute them. They also result in hallucinations, they experience moments similar to certain events in their lives. This can lead to violent behavior or even self-harm as some re-visit situations they tried to avoid.
The inhalants such as cleaning fluids, spray paints, glues, and others that are inhaled through the mouth or nose may result to dizziness, vomiting, nausea, apathy and blurred vision. It’s harmful since it may result in unconsciousness, coma and even death. They may also result in brain damage, sexual dysfunction and also irregular menses in women.
Nowadays most drugs that are illegal were used for medicinal therapies in the early days and they were available in pharmacies, these include opiates, cocaine, and others. The early laws on drugs majored to promote public relations of the countries involved rather than the concern of the public welfare. In 1901 restrictions were placed on opium, but this was a way of prohibiting the Chinese people from entering the country. In 1909 the smoking opium exclusion act was imposed. These banned the importation, smoking, and use of opium but was used in small- scale for medication purposes. In 1914 the Harrison Act was passed, it regulated and taxed the production process of cocaine or opium, its transportation and also the distribution process. In 1919 the Alcohol prohibition law was passed, this law prohibits the manufacturing, transportation and the distribution of these intoxicated liquors. In 1937 a law on the prohibition use of marijuana and criminalization if used was imposed. In the 1970s the controlled substance act was passed that helped the regulated use of certain substances. In the ‘70s due to increased abuse of these drugs, President Nixon started fighting the misuse of drugs by increasing funding’s on the drug control agencies and the incrimination of the drug users. 1986 Anti-drug abuse act was passed, that stated the sentencing of those using these drugs. In the 21 century, the fight on drugs is still on but not with vigor as in early days since in 2010 fair sentencing act was passed which reduced sentencing on drugs like powder cocaine.
The main difference among different crime syndicates is their origin and the code of conduct by these groups. Different countries have different groups that sprang up and earned themselves a name that represents the gangs. The Russian mafia is a well-known group that originated in the 1970s, their main population was made of the peasants. This group robbed the government and profited its community which led to their fame and rise in power. They were viewed as the protectors of the people and later formed their own code of conduct. In Italy the prominent one was the silica mafia, this was composed of a number of thieves that gained power in the community. Unlike the protectors of the poor, these ones stole from the people and engaged in other illegal activities.
The Irish mob is one of the groups that existed since the 19th century. They basically work under the criminal’s families and majorly in a large-scale, they are fully involved in drug trafficking. The triad is a secret society group that was prominent in Asia, particularly China. They were based in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Although these secret society groups were disbanded in China, some sprang up but are not the triad’s societies, they are the mainland criminal Chinese organization. These groups are identified by two characteristics one is the dark force and the black force. The dark force is not a well-organized group and mainly not veterans, while black force entails the mature criminals. Black force is able to conduct illegal activities in the market and still obtain police protection.
Cognitive behavior, behavior modeling, and behavior modification entails changing one’s behavior. It’s done by watching a certain behavior and obtaining both positive and negative feedback. They encourage one to change their behavior by using cognitive strategies. They are taught to use prompts to remember to engage in the behavior. The DARE policy that was popular but ineffective in controlling drug use. This resulted mostly by teens catching and dismissing the health effects exaggerations of drug abuse that were presented to them.
Drug trade earns a lot of money even millions in a month, most of these funds are used to fund illegal acts such as terrorism around the city or even organize terror attacks. These are also involved in activities such as gambling, prostitution, and extortion. These relate to the gang and crime activities since it usually results in violent dispute in the market among the different distributors and the producers.it also leads to homicides since some members are killed if they become informants or if they want to leave the group. These drugs are largely sold in the black markets, due to strict laws they are shipped, flown and tracked into the country secretly.
According to statistics almost half of the release offenders are re-arrested within the five years from release. Various things considered for release and re-entry are the type of felony committed, whether it’s the first time or its repeated and also the length of time between the felonies. Also, the behavior of the offender while behind bars is taken into great consideration. During these considerations, the victim’s testimonies play a greater role in determining the risk of re-offense (Gaes, 2017)
Reference
Gaes, G. S., & Kendig, N. (2017, March 23). The Skill Sets and Health Care Needs of Released Offenders. Retrieved from https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/skill-sets-and-health-care-needs-released-offenders
Grabianowski, E. (2006, September 26). How Street Gangs Work. Retrieved from https://people.howstuffworks.com/street-gang1.htm
Will-Harries, D. (2003, September 1). Gangs of America by Ted Nace – the rise of Corporate Power and the disabling of democracy. Retrieved from http://www.gangsofamerica.com/
