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Gang Databases
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How do your Local Law Enforcement Officers Identify Potential Gang Members?
Local law enforcement officials use several methods to identify potential gang members. Firstly, they use unique signs specific to particular groups, such as tattoos or hand signals (Novich, 2018). Subsequently, the law enforcers also search the criminal records in their databases to determine whether the individuals could be connected to past gang-related criminal engagements such as the sale of drugs or weapons.
Does Law Enforcement in your Community Rely on a Gang Database?
Law enforcement officials in my community rely on gang databases for several reasons. Firstly, they contain important content that can be used to identify and apprehend gang members, such as their leaders and the activities they engage in (Kenno-Youngs & Porter, 2018). Subsequently, they also indicate the geographical locations where their activities are centered.
What are the Pros and Cons of using a Gang Database?
The pros of gang databases include the fact that they provide effective content that aid in identifying members of criminal gangs. On the other hand, the pros of the gang databases are that the information they contain is not updated; hence they may cause unprecedented criminalization of some populations (Novich, 2018). They create the impression that certain populations, such as African Americans, are more inclined to criminal activities.
Should Gang Databases Continue to be used to Combat Gang-related Activities? Why or Why Not?
I believe that gang databases should be used in combating gang activities. This is because they contain information that can be used to identify gangs, such as their distinctive signs and the scope of their activities (Kanno-Youngs & Porter, 2018). Therefore, the information should not be eliminated because it is vital during investigative processes.
References
Kanno-Youngs, Z., & Porter Jr, G. (2018). Gang Databases are the Latest Controversial Policing Tool. The Wall Street Journal.
Novich, M. (2018). Policing American gangs and gang members. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
(READ ONLY) PROFESSOR RESPONSE TO QUESTION ABOVE Michael Klemp-North
You brought up that information should not be eliminated. Do you feel that people should be able to be removed from the database?
(READ ONLY) MY RESPONSE BACK TO PROFESSOR
No sir. People should not be removed from the database. This is because information stored in the database is very crucial in making future references in relation to the person. When an individual engages in criminal activity, there is a likelihood of committing such a crime in the future if given a better opportunity that allows the activity to be done. For example, a money-laundering criminal might engage in money laundering at a larger scope if given a senior position in government. With detailed records or information on such individuals, it becomes easier for the government or vetting team to disqualify the person before the candidate is shortlisted. The fact does not mean there are no individuals who reform completely after rehabilitation. It is just a risk prevention strategy that is necessary for public interests (Triola, 2020). However, if people are allowed to remove such information from the database, it would be difficult to put such variables into consideration in the future.
Reference
Triola, S. M. (2020). Data Against Youth of Color in the Information Policing Era: How Gang Databases Are Deepening Inequality (Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland, College Park).
PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION BACK TO THE PROFESSOR BY READING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE READ UP ABOVE
(PLEASE ANSWER THIS) Michael Klemp-North
So, are you arguing that people cannot change or be rehabilitated? We remove people from sex offender registries; we don’t report people’s driving records etc. – what is different?
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Databases of Gangs
(ONLY READING) MY FIRST CLASS POSTING
What methods do your local law enforcement officers use to identify potential gang members?
Several strategies are used by local law enforcement to identify potential gang members. To begin, they employ distinctive indicators peculiar to various communities, such as tattoos or hand signals (Novich, 2018). Following that, law enforcement officers scan the criminal records in their databases to see if the individuals have a history of gang-related criminal activity, such as the sale of drugs or firearms.
Is your local law enforcement reliant on a gang database?
My community’s law enforcement officers rely on gang databases for a variety of reasons. For starters, they contain vital information.
