Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
We live in unsafe environments. Apart from modern day threats that pose as a danger to humanity, street violence comes in as one of them. Our streets are no longer safe. Instances of street violence are common as violent individuals roam the streets thereby endangering the peace and tranquility that once existed in our roads, school yards, packs and neighborhoods amongst other places. Throughout the world, reports of street violence composed of individuals engaging themselves in criminal activities are on the rise. Without exception, reports in many parts of the world indicate that street violence is climbing steadily with higher chances of increasing in the future (Delaney, 2006). Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment. Street violence though, is more complex and diverse as it can take any forms such as pick-pocketing, muggings, threats and intimidations, alcohol and drug-related crime and youth gangs amongst others. In this paper however, we will narrow down our scope and focus on youth- related gang violence in the society and all over the world with an aim of understanding the myths, theories, themes, and other issues related to street youth gang violence or crime. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
Criminological records indicate that youth gangs roaming the streets are turning out to be a problem for communities, families, and law enforcers (Aldridge & Medina, 2007). For decades, instances of street gangs mainly comprised of the youth are increasing despite efforts to minimize them. A deeper understanding of criminological research or theories may assist us in understanding in definitional issues of street gangs, the causation street gangs, criminological theories of street gang development, and street gang interventions just to mention but a few. We will therefore begin our paper with defining some of the specific terms relevant to the issue of youth gangs followed by a brief history of the same. Later on, we will attempt to provide recent statistics and records in terms of gang numbers and their contribution to crime in the society and all over the world. Thereafter, theoretical perspectives that account for the existence of gangs and their formation will be explained. In addition, existing myths about gangs will be highlighted. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
Lastly, the paper will examine recent law enforcement strategies meant to reduce youth gang violence and recommendations on the most effective strategies to be adopted.
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Definition of terms
No universal definition is in place to define the term gangs. Different scholars have however formulated their own definitions of gangs. Delaney (2006), for instance, proposed hisown definition of gangs as groups which are made of a common purpose while involving
themselves in criminal activities. Moving on from Delaney’s definition, youth gangs seem to be individuals who are either in their teenage stages or in twenties and align themselves along different aspects such as geographical locations, age group, and other commonalities that bring
them together (Aldridge & Medina, 2007). Even though a good number of gangs in the society
and other places of the world consist of groups with different ages ranging from teenagers to those aged, for purposes of this paper, the term “gang” or “gangs” will therefore be interchangeable with youth gangs. In addition, community will be interchangeable with society. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
Historical perspectives of youth gangs
Historically, gang violence has been a common phenomenon in the society and all over
the world (Myers, 2000). Gangs, mainly made up of youths have been causing mayhem especially on our streets to the extent of spreading beyond the confines of major cities. The
introduction of sophisticated firearms has led to increased street gang violence. In the UnitedStates for instance, a survey conducted by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s
National Youth Gang Center on street violence and homicide cases did indicate that deaths resulting from youth gangs have been on the increase since the years 1990s to 2000. In 2015 for instance, the U.S reported a sharp rise in youth gang-related violence with cities such as Chicago, New-York, and Baltimore recording high numbers of gang-related violence involving the youth (Myers, 2000). Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
In other major cities across and countries across the world such as the UK, France, Germany, South Africa, and Spain amongst others, gang violence, especially on the streets are rising. In London for instance, serious youth g ang violence are growing with reports indicating that 23% of all crimes committed on the streets were gang related (Aldridge & Medina, 2007).
Instances of street shootings, stabbings, and street gang fights are on the rise to the extent of capturing the attention of major stakeholders determined to tackle youth gang crimes.
Gang-related Myths
The society holds a lot of myths on matters to do with gangs. For instance, there is a
notion that majority of street gang members are juveniles (Aleasha, 2011). However, juveniles
who are less than 18 years make up a small proportion of gang membership. In Los Angeles for
instance, of all the gang members known, 20% of them are just juveniles. Subsequently, majority
of people believe that gang related crimes are wars between gangs themselves. This is not true.
Gang related crimes have claimed more innocent victims who are not even members of a given
gang. Another common misconception is that females are not really associated with gangs. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment. In St.
Louis, females were used as means of transporting weapons and going back to murder scenes to
count the fatalities (William, 2011).
Other previously held myths on gangs is that all street gangs are turf oriented with
weapons made up of only chains, knives and tire iron. In addition, it was believed that one way
of reducing gang problem is by locking a gang member away. However, all the above are just myths and preconceived notions on gangs (William, 2011).
Theoretical Frameworks that explain gang formation
Many theories have been published over the years with an attempt of finding out the reason why gangs are so appealing and attractive to the youths in the community and across the world. Despite all the research and efforts, none of these theories have made a solid ground on why the youth in the society and across the world find gang life attractive (Lester, 2013).
However, some accepts that result in gang formation can better be understood through certain theoretical frameworks. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
The Hierarchy of Needs whose proponent is Abraham Maslow can, partly, give us a better explanation as to the reason why the youth are prone to joining gangs or other violent groups. Abraham Maslow held the belief that there are five stages of needs that every human being seeks to fulfill. Based on the ideas of Maslow’s theory, Lester (2013) elaborates on the five stages as: physiological, safety, belonging-love, self-esteem, and self-actualization. Lester (2013) goes on to imply that belonging to a certain gang has a possibility of fulfilling all the above stages in young people. For instance, according to Lester (2013), if an individual joins a gang, the psychological needs are met as he or she gets food and shelter. On matter to do with safety needs, such are met since incase anything happens, an individual will be protected by his or her gang members and with that, a person is given a strong sense of belonging based on membership of a given gang. With some sense of belonging, aspects of unconditional love, self-esteem and self-actualization thereby flourish. This theory manifests itself better in youth brought up in poor surroundings where street life is a way of surviving. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
Other theories such as the Anomie-Strain better explained by Alleyne, Merton, and Wood
(2010), tells us that there are some external forces or causes that make an individual, especially the youths, to be influenced to join gang groups. In our society today, there are certain goals set and the ability to achieve them provided. However, they are not equal to all. Some achieve them while others fail to do so. The inequality created causes strain the society. Furthermore the society has come up certain anomies that tend to favor those individuals who have achieved their goals. Feeling neglected, the youth affected by such strains form gang or groups associated with crime (Alleyne, Merton & Wood, 2010). However, not all is lost. Gang reduction strategies aimed at reducing or curing gang problems are in place. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
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Gang reduction Programs
Street violence has claimed a lot of innocent lives. The need to reduce youth gangs is therefore important. Several strategies can be used to deter youth from engaging themselves in crime. For instance, there is a need to put in place after school and community activities that troubled youths can participate in (Shute, 2013). In addition, there is a need to ensure that college prep classes are in place for those individuals willing to attend college. Other activities include creating athletic clubs for kids and counseling sessions to troubled youths. An anti-gun initiative needs to be encouraged to reduce the number of firearms possessed by the youth.
Conclusion
To conclude, a host of countries across the globe are faced with the problems of street
violence. A lot of innocent lives and destruction of property has been reported due to aspects of
street violence. Our streets are no longer safe. In fact nobody is totally safe. Street violence
knows no limits, boundaries, age, sex, gender, and religion amongst others. However, we can
end this. Programs and methods meant to reduce street violence are practical and if implemented,
solutions are achievable. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
References
Alleyne, E., & Wood, J. L. (2010). Gang involvement: psychological and behavioral
characteristics of gang members, peripheral youth, and non-gang Youth. Aggressive
Behavior, 36(6), 423-436.
Aldridge, J. & Medina, J. (2007) Youth Gangs in an English City: Social Exclusion, Drugs and
Violence, 305–323. Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.
Aleasha, C. (2011). Youth Gangs in the UK: Myth or Reality? Internet Journal of Criminology,
2(1), 1-26
Delaney, T. (2006). American street gangs. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall
Lester, D. (2013). Measuring Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Psychological Reports, 113(1), 15-
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Myers, J. (2000). Is There a Youth Gang Epidemic?.Education Digest, 66(3), 34.
Shute, J. (2013). Family Support as a Gang Reduction Measure. Children & Society, 27(1), 48-
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William, J. H (2011). Gang Facts and Myths. Conroe ISD Police Department, 1-85, Street Violence in Society and all over the World Essay Assignment.