Gangs Research Paper

“Crime, court, conviction, incarceration. Repeat.” Researchers used federal data in estimating that in 2009, “there are approximately one million gang members [in the United States]. (“Gangs Timeline.” n.p.). A million is way too high of a number, and since researchers made that estimate, the number of Americans in gangs has surely grown. The United States is caught in a downward spiral heading towards gangs having complete control of not only the inner cities, but the expansion of gangs makes the threat of gang violence in American suburbia a likely part of the future if something is not done to stop it. The solution to the skyrocketing gang problem is not through harsher penalties against gang crimes since it has not worked, it is through social service and community outreach programs to show gang members that there is a viable way out and to stop the problem from occurring in the first place. Some people believe that the solution to the gang problem is through harsher penalties against gang crimes. In the past the justice system has adopted this strategy in order to deter gang activity (“Show Them the Way Out of Gangs” n.p.). This is a threat tactic used by the government that is thought to scare members out of gangs; but in reality has no effect since gang members often have fellow gang members in prison, making the thought of incarceration not as fearful as it would be to another citizen. Then “in California prisons, prison inmates conduct a hunger strike to call to attention conditions, such as long stints in solitary confinement for suspected gang members,” (“Gangs Timeline.” n.p.). The use of these intimidation methods did more harm than good in sparking a prison strike in which the prison was fortunate that the strike was a generally peaceful one, for gangs have an infamous past of not being the most peaceful people. The National Gang Center which is part of the Justice Department reported that “gangs are growing in number and reach throughout the U.S,” (“Gangs Timeline.” n.p.). This clearly means harsher penalties have not worked; gangs are not intimidated by the threats of the judicial system, and the problem will not be fixed on its own. A change must occur, and if it does not, gangs’ grips on American cities will escalate uncontrollably. The first answer to the rapidly accelerating gang problem is through social service programs. One such social service program is Homeboy Industries, where former gang members are rehabilitated by being helped in finding jobs and taught about topics such as law, drugs, and mental health so they have the tools to live on their own (“Where Homies Can Heal.” n.p.). This is a great example of a social service program that has directly affected thousands and has given many others hope for a future outside of gang life; a much better technique than trying to scare people that will quite literally die or kill for their gang. One service that Homeboy Industries offers is tattoo removal, helping roughly 12,000 each year (“Where… Heal.” n.p.). Tattoo removal seems like such a miniscule thing, but it is enough to free former gang members; for with the tattoo removed they are no longer a direct target for gang related violence, letting them walk down the street with their kids and feel a lot safer. A success story of Homeboy Industries and social service programs in general, is Jose Osuna, a former Hispanic gang member who did 13 years in various prisons, but turned his life around by being taught how to install solar panels and now works as a trainer (“Where… Heal.” n.p.). If a man who has been in a gang the majority of his life and has served multiple terms in prison for gang related crimes can be rehabilitated and integrated into everyday society, then there are no more than a handful of gang members on the planet that cannot be rehabilitated, if that. Homeboy Industries is one of the first steps towards eliminating the power that gangs have over American cities by showing existing gang members a way out and helping them do so. An even more effective answer to the rising gang problems is through community outreach programs. The most common reasons why young men join gangs are to “belong to a group, receive protection... and be more popular.” (“The Reality of Gangs.” n.p.). Although this is not true in all cases, the bulk of gang members have been deprived of the feeling of being wanted due to growing up in lower income neighborhoods, and seek a place where they belong and can work for something bigger than themselves. LA Gang Tours is a program, established in 2010, where ex-gang members talk to young people about the horrors of gangs in order to “scare them straight,” (“Gangs Timeline.” n.p.). By doing so, kids are taught to not join gangs and focus on other things which stops a new wave of youth being ushered into gang life, and over time will cause gangs to deteriorate due to a lack of incoming recruits. To start this process of deterioration, community outreach programs must be more commonly used in cities all across America, and through this there will be significant change. The only practical way to deal with the ever-worsening gang problem with the intent of improving it is to support social service and community outreach programs instead of simply punishing gang crimes with an iron fist. The issue of gang violence and power is an epidemic becoming more serious every single day, and the only way to make a substantial impact on it is with these programs. Gang members face the reality of “crime, court, conviction, incarceration. Repeat,” on a daily basis (“Show…Gangs.” n.p.). These programs need to be enacted nationwide, or this vicious cycle will continue and spiral out of control.

Works Cited
"The Reality of Gangs." Crime Prevention. Sacramento County Sheriff. Web. 31 Jan 2013.
"Where Homies Can Heal." Economist. 18 Feb 2012: 32. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013.
"Show Them the Way Out of Gangs." Salinas Californian (Salinas, CA). 30 Jan 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb 2013.
ProQuest Staff. "Gangs Timeline." Leading Issues Timelines. 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013.

Bibliography
"The Reality of Gangs." Crime Prevention. Sacramento County Sheriff. Web. 31 Jan 2013.
"Where Homies Can Heal." Economist. 18 Feb 2012: 32. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013.
"Show Them the Way Out of Gangs." Salinas Californian (Salinas, CA). 30 Jan 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb 2013.
ProQuest Staff. "Gangs Timeline." Leading Issues Timelines. 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013.
Gold, Scott. "They 're Training Minds to Save the Streets." Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA). 23 May 2010: A. 35. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013.
“gang.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 31 Jan 2013

Bibliography: "The Reality of Gangs." Crime Prevention. Sacramento County Sheriff. Web. 31 Jan 2013. "Where Homies Can Heal." Economist. 18 Feb 2012: 32. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013. "Show Them the Way Out of Gangs." Salinas Californian (Salinas, CA). 30 Jan 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb 2013. ProQuest Staff. "Gangs Timeline." Leading Issues Timelines. 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013. Gold, Scott. "They 're Training Minds to Save the Streets." Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA). 23 May 2010: A. 35. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 Jan 2013. “gang.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 31 Jan 2013