Essay On Gang Delinquency

The temptation and influence of gang activity is as prominent in females as it is in males. Before exploring the topic of gang delinquency one must first understand what a gang is. Most often, definitions of gang membership or affiliation mirror the organization rather than empirical realities of gang membership through self-selection (Huff, 1990). At the state level a gang consists of three or more people that share a common and identifying sign, symbol, or name. Whether individually or collectively, said members participate in constant criminal or delinquent behavior. The research conducted in this paper explores the various reasons why female adolescents join gangs, their respective roles, female participation versus male participation and
possible deterrence mechanisms.
The majority of gang participation is determined via self report surveys that ask open ended questions regarding the subjects activity within a specified amount of time (Huff, 1990). Huff (1990) found that this was the most effective way to measure gang delinquency because the survey avoided defining gang membership, which usually varies between states and agencies. He also stated that due to the participant’s personal definition and opinions of gang activity, validity threats were consequently decreased. McDaniel (2012) found that in his study of 4131 subjects approximately 208 willingly admitted to being a part of a gang and in various urban areas gang membership has reached between 580 and 1250 participants, of these numbers approximately 36 percent were females.
Gordon (2006) identified several associated risk factors that lead to juvenile gang involvement.
The first few risk factors that she acknowledged were living in an area with high levels of gang activity, drug and alcohol use, readily available firearms, the lack of a positive support system, violence amongst family members, and the exposure to glorified violence on television shows, movies, music, and video games. Youth also become at risk when there is a lack of extracurricular activities or role models, patterns of low self-esteem, a sense of hopelessness, poor performance in school, poor decision-making, communication and coping skills, a troubled relationship between the parent and child, a resistance to authority, and the exposure to family members associated with gangs (Gordon,
2006).
Early sociologists referred to the family as one of the most significant institutions because it had the greatest influence of the growth of children (Sheehan, 2010). Hoyt and Scherer (1988) found that one major contribution to juvenile delinquency, or at least the performance of status offenses, is the presence of single-parent homes or broken homes. The broken home theory, which is defined as a family structure that deviates from the ideal family structure; one or more of the parents are absent due to death, divorce, separation, or desertion, has been used by various sociologists to explicate why some juveniles are delinquent (Sheehan, 2010). Sheehan (2010) offered statistics from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) that puts the effects of single-parent homes into perspective. Between 1970 and 2007 the percentage of children living in single-parents homes more than doubled from 12% to 29% (Sheehan, 2010). Through Sheehan’s (2010) research she discovered that this particular family structure has unfavorable effects on the child due to a lack of role models, supervision, and inadequate love from the absent parent.
The high correlation between family factors and juvenile delinquency has a significant influence on children and their decisions to partake in gang activity. There has been a greater focus on the structural factors rather than family process variables that are used to measure the quality of family interaction (Hoyt & Scherer, 1998). Hoyt and Scherer (1998) stated that youth that are a product of single-parent homes are more likely to be labeled as delinquent as a result of growing up in dysfunctional families. These homes are viewed as unstable and problematic, subsequently, so are the juveniles that reside in them; these juveniles are further viewed as out of control and insubordinate (Hoyt &Scherer, 1998). Official delinquency statistics indicate that youth from broken homes were at a higher risk to be detained by police officers and, or arrested (Hoyt & Scherer, 1998). Hoyt and Scherer (1998) concluded from their research that there is a visible unpretentious effect between broken homes and the frequency of delinquency.
In a collective study done by Jaggers, Church, Bolland, K., Hopper, and Bolland, J. (2013) it was found that peer relationships between juveniles were amongst the most prevalent predictors of deviant behavior. This group of researchers determined that juveniles are placed at greater risk to become involved with gang activity when they are exposed to other juveniles in the community that are participating in similar activity (Jaggers et al., 2013). When the amount of time spent with delinquent peers increases the chances of engaging in delinquent behavior increases as well.
Predisposition to delinquent activity increases the probability of gang participation and violent delinquent acts; delinquency is a type of socialization method for gang involvement and the associated behaviors (Jaggers et al., 2013).
Being predisposed to negative peer influences has an effect on the juvenile’s individual offending level, however, individual offending decreases considerably once the youth stops associating with the gang (Esbensen & Huizinga, 1993). Juvenile gang members are more likely to engage in the commitment of both serious and violent crimes in comparison to juveniles that are not involved in gangs (Howell, 2000). Howell (2000) discovered at one point that gang members committed up to three times as many serious and violent offenses as their counterparts that were not involved with gangs.
Jaggers et al. (2013) analyzed first hand witnesses that detailed what an average female may experience during her gang initiation. They determined that the initiation is meant to be both painful and embarrassing and aims to avoid rival gangs from spying and to ensure that the person will be an asset to the group (Jagger et al. 2013). The most common initiation rites include a beating, forced sexual activity, getting a tattoo, and participating in a robbery or drive by (Jaggers et al,
2013).
The beating can be done in either a line or a circle; the person being initiated fights anywhere between five and 12 gang members (Jaggers et al., 2013). Jaggers et al. (2013) found that winning was not the objective; the objective was for the person being initiated to show their strength and durability. They went on to discover that the sexual activity frequently resembles rape and can include as many as 11 males (Jagger et al., 2013). The individuals being initiated are required to permanently identify themselves as a part of the gang, usually with a tattoo, that will either declare what gang they belong to or that depicts an image unique to that gang (Jaggers et al., 2013).
In terms of defining female gang participation, Huff (1990) viewed their function as being both interactive and beneficial to the organizational aspect of gang membership. He continued on to state that female roles are generally established and described by their male counterparts and often are gathered and interpreted by male researchers, which could potentially be affected by a biased opinion (Huff, 1990).
Typically, females play the role of a girlfriend to a male member; if the female is not already involved with gang activity this male member will influence or pressure the female to join the gang that he belongs to (Huff, 1990). Huff (1990) stated that some females simply are used to provide a sexual service. Females are often seen as sex objects that are sometimes forced to engage in sexual behavior with the male members (Hansen 2005). Females are also used to entice rival males at the request of their male counterparts, spy on rival gangs by establishing relationships with the members, and to carry drugs and weapons because they are less likely to be searched (Huff, 1990).
Gover, Jennings, and Tewksbury (2009) administered a self-report survey that aimed to gather delinquency data on both females and males in South Carolina high schools. After gathering and analyzing the student’s responses they concluded that both females and males commit status offenses and minor index crimes at a similar frequency (Gover et al., 2009). The responses from the self-report survey also indicated that females are treated more compassionately but are held more responsible for their actions rather than their male (Gover et al., 2009).
Gover et al. (2009) also determined from the self-report survey that males are arrested three times more than females and that females have a better chance at having their case processed informally rather than going through an official adjudication hearing. Youth females are typically arrested for less serious offenses more recurrently and are rarely remanded to adult courts in comparison to males (Gover et al., 2009).
Haymoz and Gatti (2010) found that females tend to join and leave gangs at an earlier age than boys. They suggest that females most often join gangs at either 11 or 12 years of age and at this same age truancy, the consumption of alcohol and drugs, and the commission of minor offenses begin (Haymoz & Gatti, 2010). Between 15 and 19 years of age gang affiliated females begin to commit more serious offenses including, but not limited to, robbery and assault (Haymoz & Gatti, 2010). This same study goes on to find that as the deviant behavior begins to come to an end the females frequently abandon the gang and attempt to secure a job, whereas males continue their gang participation into adulthood (Haymoz & Gatti, 2010).
Lauderdale and Burman (2009) found that unlike male gangs, female gangs do not possess territorial or violent characteristics within their daily activity; however, they both offer structure and support but by using different methods. Female gangs were found to be less violent and as a result conflict was more verbal rather than physical and were the result of the ending of a relationship or romance (Lauderdale & Burman, 2009).
McDaniel (2012), through his research, determined that programs that emphasized parent training and helping youth develop coping skills would be most beneficial for youth that have been classified as at risk in terms of gang affiliation. Evidence-based deterrence programs that focus mainly on developing coping skills, such as Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) and I Can Problem Solve, have been found to have positive effect on reducing gang affiliation by at least 46 percent (McDaniel, 2012). Simultaneous parent and child programs that develop both coping and effective parenting skills, such as Strengthening Families Program, Fast Track, Prevention Treatment Program, and Incredible Years, have been found to either contribute to the gang affiliation reduction or show great signs of potential as serving as a deterrent (McDaniel 2012).
A Second’s Chance intervention reported that over three quarters of female gang members expressed having a family member that was gang affiliated (Hughes, Guarino, Drabik-Medeiros, & Williams, 2012). Hughes et al. (2012) discovered that participants reacted positively to the intervention experience. They also found that the youth involved had not contemplated the effects of their gang involvement prior to the intervention; however, after there were great indications that none of the youth involved wanted to put their families through such pain as a result of their actions (Hughes et al., 2012).
Another type of deterrence mechanism, explored by Hughes et al. (2012), is known as the Elements Program; this program encompasses gang prevention, intervention, and diversion. The program’s mission is “to prevent children from joining gangs, to intervene with young people who have gang affiliation, divert youth and young adults from continued gang involvement and to suppress those who seek to prevent any of the above” (Hughes et al., 2012). Hughes et al. (2012) described Elements as a yearlong program that concentrations on determining the hidden motives that coerce youths to be involved in gangs. Through individual, group, and family therapy Elements provides substitutions to gang involvement, treatment for hidden motives, advocacy, social communication, adequate role models, and ultimately the aspiration to disconnect from gang participation (Hughes et al., 2012).
As a result of the Element’s program, 95 percent of participants showed improvement in their school attendance and 79 percent displayed academic improvement (Hughes et al., 2012). Hughes et al. (2012) also found that about half of the participants began the program with open criminal cases but close to 90 percent of the group avoided any subsequent charges during the duration of the program. These preliminary results imply early success, especially considering that most of the participants were classified as high-risk individuals (Hughes et al., 2012).
Lauderdale and Burman (2009) concluded that gang formation is the result of human interaction and possess activities that distinguish individuals from one another, allow individuals to establish their identity, and occupy their time with what they believe are worthwhile activities. The public health approach, which is aims to reduce delinquency and counteract gang participation encourages authority to aid youth in building up their confidence and increasing their ability to handle conflict while simultaneously encouraging more parental monitoring (McDaniel 2012).
Future research should analyze larger samples in various areas to ensure that the results produced are both reliable and a true reflection of female gang participation. Encouraging family strength when combating gang delinquency is essential. “Healthy families are the foundation of strong and healthy communities” (Preston, Carr-Stewart, & Northwest, 2009). Preston et al. (2009) believed that empowering parents through boosting parent-child relationships would allow youth to acknowledge their family values thus deterring them from engaging in deviant behavior. Ultimately, addressing gang related issues depends on government organizations, parents, the community, and the child. Developing and enforcing gang prevention policies and programs are essential in the reduction of youth gang involvement.