Gang prevention initiatives require a deep understanding of the risks factors associated with gang involvement. Continued studies have linked issues related to home life, school, community, peers and individual behaviors with gang involvement (National Gang Center [NGC], n.d.). Though gang members generally cite risk factors across multiple domains, the testimony of former gang members reveals significant influence from the community environment (NGC, n.d.). Therefore, reducing street gang involvement relies on addressing community issues such as poverty, drug abuse, and violence. This suggestion heavily relies on current gang life conditions and factors leading up to former gang members abandoning gang life.
I. The Community in Relation to Street Gangs
Gang life is reflective of the same community influences that have negatively impacted gang members. As the NGC (n.d.) states, many gang members cite community influences that led to delinquent or antisocial behaviors. During an interview with a former gang member named Marion, Marion described a community infested with violence, drugs and poverty (NGC, n.d.). The effects of seeing such chaos within the community were long-lasting for Marion and many other gang members. Iris, a former female gang member, reflects on these effects. Both Marion and Iris state that such an environment influenced thoughts of normalcy (NGC, n.d.) In essence, Marion’s and Iris’s reflection demonstrates an acceptance and expectation of such behaviors and living conditions. These antisocial beliefs were later demonstrated while actively participating in gang activity.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Reducing Gang Violence".
Once individuals enter in gangs, antisocial behavior is continued. Delinquent behaviors performed by gang members are often reflective of the very behaviors commonly seen while growing up (NGC, n.d.). For instance, Latee Smith, a former gang member from Chicago, participated in gun violence, street retaliation and fighting (Cox, 2017). According the Smith’s own account, the behaviors he displayed resembled behaviors he had witnessed within his community since early childhood (Cox, 2017). Reymundo Sanchez shares a similar experience in his autobiography. Sanchez (2000) grew up seeing violence and drug abuse since he was an early child. Once a member of the Latin Kings, Sanchez (2000) continued to demonstrate the very behaviors that negatively impacted him in the first place. Smith’s and Sanchez’s journey is not a unique one in gang life. Youths who grow up in communities infested with poverty, drugs and violence tend to involve themselves in the same activity when in a gang.
II. Motivators to Leave the Gang
Community-based risk factors associated with gang-related activity also pose as motivators for gang members when deciding to leave gang affiliations. The National Gang Center (n.d.) notes a lack of permanence when youths join gangs. Nearly half of the youth population associated with gang risk factors never actually join gangs (NGC, n.d.). Furthermore, those who joined a gang rarely remained active after a year (NGC, n.d.). A few factors have been cited by the NGC video presentation. The most important factor mentioned was incompatibility with the lifestyle (NGC, n.d.). Testimonies from former gang members further validate these beliefs.
In nearly every instance of gang members leaving their gang families, major events such as gun violence, drug overdose or continued poverty were motivators for wanting to leave. For former Latin King, Reymundo Sanchez, an incidence with drug overdosing eventually led to his disassociation with the Latin Kings. According to Sanchez (2000), the drug overdose led to a reflection of life decisions, including his gang affiliation. After a falling out with other gang members, Sanchez (2000) felt it was best if he pursued a life free of gang violence. During NGC’s (n.d.) video presentation regarding risk factors, former gang members Dustin and Iris reflected on their decisions to leave. Each member cited desires of a life free of drug addiction and violence as reasons for leaving the gang (NGC, n.d.). What once was an appealing lifestyle, now posed a threat their future livelihood.
III. Differences in Views
The personal accounts of Sanchez, Iris, Marion and Dustin reveal a complex relationship between poverty, drug abuse, violence, gang life and gang retirement. The testimony of Marion, Sanchez and Marion in section one demonstrates a strong correlation between delinquent behaviors witnessed in the community and the behaviors exhibited while involved in a gang. What is interesting about these risk factors is that they act as motivators to leave the gang later in life. Essentially, community crime and disorganization influence gang behavior, which in turn influences the desire to leave the gang. This creates an endless cycle of gang recruitment and gang retirement. This cycle indicates a maturity of wants and desires in the youths who join gangs and eventually leave them. For example, many gang members join gangs in the hopes of finding love and acceptance (NGC, n.d.). However, once gang members are ready to leave the gang, they display desires of stability and a life free of violence.
IV. Conclusion
Several risk factors lead to gang affiliation; however, it is risk factors associated with the community environment that lead to continued delinquent behavior in gang life. Subsequently, these risk factors eventually act as motivators when gang members are ready to the leave the gang. This cycle reveals a process of mental development as well as increased awareness of surroundings. Youth who are drawn to gang activities generally grow up accepting these behaviors as a way of life. However, once individuals join gangs, these behaviors become a significant part of day-to-day life. This repeated exposure likely acts as a catalyst in motivating gang members to leave the gang. Continued research is needed to further understand the complex relationship between community-based risk factors and gang affiliation. Once these relations are better understood, gang prevention policies can be further strengthened, thus becoming more effective in reducing the presence of street gangs.
- Cox, J.W. (2017). ‘Let This Boy Make It.’ The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/local/2017/08/11/shot-at-15-he-now-had-one-goal-amid-chicagos-relentless-gunfire-stay-alive/?tid=a_classic-iphone&utm_term=.cea19b0f8a4c
- National Gang Center. (n.d.). Why Youth Join Gangs. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Library/#webinars
- Sanchez, R. (2000). My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.
