National Security

ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua/Barbuda

RSS Distance Learning assignment
Hon. Fitzroy Gatham
Minister of National Security
Palmolive Ave.
Jasper City
Cargan.

17th July, 2013.

Report on the apparent growth of gangs and organized crime in the country of Cargan outlining the strategy to be implemented by the Gang Task Force to reduce the negative impact of gangs and organized crime.
Objectives
* Formulate Gang Reduction Strategy to lessen the impact of gangs and organized crime. * Community mobilization and integration of community resources * Sustainable and effective gang enforcement

Research Method – exploratory
Data Collection Methods: Surveys, Observation, Interviews, documents, census
Rationale – Ministers of government main function is to formulate policy, therefore proposing a strategy for implementation on a national level, the information should be credible, compelling and relevant in regards to background and current situation. Subsequently, the research and data collection methods chosen provides the scope and depth to gather and present the information.
Definitions:
Gang – a group of people who associate together or act as an organized body, especially for criminal or illegal purposes. They share a common group name, symbols, and style of dress and frequently congregate upon, or lay claim to a geographic location.

ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

Organized Crime - a term which categorize transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals, who intend to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit.
Subculture – the way of life, customs and ideas of a particular group of people within a society, which are different from the rest of that society.
Introduction
A series of tragic and high-profile shootings has raised the issue of gang membership in both the public consciousness and the political arena. With a background of hooded youngsters posing with guns being aired on the television news, there have been renewed calls for attempts either to crack down on the activities of these youngsters or otherwise to prevent them from becoming involved in gang violence.
Since the mid - 20th century gangs and organized crime in this country has become widespread. They are a growing problem and have become a matter of great public concern. All twelve (12) districts report gangs and organized crime problems, and reports have increased for five of the past seven years. Despite the steady growth in the number and size of gangs across Cargan and the criminal behavior and violence they spawn, little is known about the dynamics that drive gangs and how to best combat their growth. For instance, no consensus exists on how gangs form, why youth join gangs, the risk factors and attractions that increase youth’s propensity to join gangs and few gang prevention programs have been rigorously evaluated. Gangs are engaged in a variety of criminal activities – mostly the sale of illegal drugs, but also other serious crimes including extortion, fraud, identity theft, human trafficking, and living off the avails of prostitution. They routinely use violence to enforce their operations and are likely to carry weapons, especially firearms.
Gangs undermine public safety and personal security. Gang-related shootings and homicides cause fear and apprehension in our communities. Gang slayings represent an increasing proportion of overall homicides, and since gang members are targets for violence in any place and at any time; they place everyone around them – even innocent Carganians– at risk. They also threaten to rob Cargan’s youth of productive, healthy and happy futures.
Gangs actively recruit our children and youth, especially those facing challenges such as mental illness, addictions, behavioral disorders, abuse or prolonged mistreatment, and those who are marginalized or socially excluded due to race, gender or socio-economic status. The gang

ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

lifestyle is especially alluring to disenfranchised youth who feel left out and left behind by society, offering them a false sense of hope, optimism, opportunity and belonging.
The implications of gangs for our communities and our cities are serious. Gang crime creates neighborhood disorder that can affect not only property values and insurance rates but, more importantly, our quality of life.
Many children and youth from immigrant and refugee communities are particularly vulnerable because they face additional risk factors such as inadequate housing and family violence, and struggle with identity issues, loss of culture and discrimination. They may have difficulty achieving a sense of belonging in mainstream society, compounded by socio-economic disparities, language barriers, and conflicts in values. Some have faced adverse living conditions and abuse in their countries of origin, and have significant health and trust issues. Background
In many large cities in Cargan, serious gangs have been established for years. In these circumstances, one might anticipate and yet find it difficult to prevent a youth from joining a gang. For instance, the “lion heart” gang in southwestern Cargan that formed in the early 1900s was populated by second-generation, “marginalized” children of extremely poor, immigrant families who found it difficult to adjust socially and culturally to the Cargan way of life. Youth naturally joined the gangs affiliated with their barrios (i.e., neighborhoods). After more than a decade of continuous presence in some barrios, the “Lion heart” gang has become institutionalized.
National surveys of law enforcement agencies provide the most widely accepted assessment of the magnitude of Cargan gang problem. Unfortunately, not many such surveys existed prior to 1990. The two districts with the largest gang population in 1980 (Tibhath and Chun) retained their position in 1998, and were joined by Beeroth, Jearim, and Gilgal. This finding of dispersion of gang problems among the districts is an important theme in characterizing the changes in gangs over time. Such changes were reflected in the region of gang location, because gangs were located primarily in the West in the early 1980s, with very few gangs in the South. By 1998, the South ranked second among the four regions, and had recorded a 33 percent increase in the number of gangs.
A concomitant change occurred in the presence of gangs by city size. While the 1980’s gang surveys showed that gangs existed almost exclusively in large cities, by the end of the decade gangs were observed in cities of a variety of sizes and regional locations. There is also an
ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

increasing presence in Cargan of gangs with national affiliations and international ties, such as “brave heart” and increasing evidence that gangs have ties to organized crime and even terrorist organizations. According to a national survey, there are currently about 425 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs operating in Cargan with approximately 10,000 members.
Attractions to Gangs
Factors that contribute to a youth’s decision to join a gang fall into two categories: attractions and risk factors. (Decker and Van Winkle, 1996). A common public perception is that most youth are coerced into joining a gang. Quite to the contrary, most youth who join want to belong to a gang. Gangs are often at the center of appealing social action—parties, hanging out, music, drugs, and opportunities to socialize with members of the opposite sex. The gang may be appealing because it meets a youth’s social needs. Youth reported the following reasons for joining a gang, in the order of descending importance.
• For protection
• For enjoyment
• For respect
• For money
• Because a friend was in the gang
These are the typical gang attractions that youth acknowledge. Of these reasons, youth most commonly join gangs for the safety they believe the gang provides (Decker and Curry, 2000; Decker and Van Winkle, 1996; Peterson, Taylor, and Esbensen, 2004; Thornberry, Krohn, et al., 2003). Another important influence is family members (especially siblings or cousins) who already are part of the gang (Curry, Decker, and Egley, 2002; another important influence is family members (especially siblings or cousins) who already are part of the gang. (Thornberry, Krohn, et al., 2003), Youths also occasionally cite economic reasons, such as selling drugs or making money, for joining a gang. When gangs are already established, researchers observe that the gang-joining process is similar to the manner in which most people would go about joining an organization. A youth typically begins hanging out with gang members at age 12 or 13 (even younger in some instances) and joins the gang between ages 13 and 15. This process typically takes 6 months to a year or two from the time of initial association (Decker and Van Winkle, 1996; Esbensen and Huizinga, 1993; Huff, 1996, 1998).
ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

How Many Youth Join Gangs? According to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (a nationally representative sample of 9,000 adolescents), 8 percent of the youth surveyed had belonged to a gang at some point between the ages of 12 and 17 (Snyder and Sickmund, 2006). A survey of nearly 6,000 eighth graders conducted in 11 cities with known gang problems found that 9 percent were currently gang members and 17 percent said they had belonged to a gang at some point in their lives (Esbensen and Deschenes, 1998; Esbensen et al., 2010). However, this percentage varied from 4 to 15 percent depending on location. In a subsequent 15-city sample of adolescents (about 13 years old), almost 8 percent were gang members (Esbensen et al., 2008).
Risk Factors for Joining Gangs These risk factors are classified into five domains: individual, family, school, peer group, and community/neighborhood, based on a systematic literature review (Howell and Egley, 2005). Individual Risk Factors - A number of personal risk factors make children more likely to join gangs. Antisocial behavior - Children whose antisocial behavior consistently worsens are most likely to join gangs. These behaviors include early involvement in delinquency, aggression, violence (without a weapon), alcohol or drug use, early dating, and precocious sexual activity (Craig et al., 2002; Lahey et al., 1999; Thornberry, Krohn, et al., 2003). In adolescence, other forms of violence emerge—such as attacking someone with a weapon—that may also predict joining a gang (Thornberry, Krohn, et al., 2003).
Demographic Characteristics of Gang Members
The demographic characteristics of gang members vary by geographic location—mainly reflecting the demographic makeup of the youth population (Esbensen and Lynskey, 2001).
Gender
In the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the male-to-female ratio of gang members was approximately 2 to 1 (11 percent of males versus 6 percent of females. But a more recent 15-city sample that used self-reports classified 8.8 percent of boys and 7.8 percent of girls as current gang members.
Although they were not recognized as gang members, girls were “distinctly integrated” into the male gangs (Valdez, 2007, p. 87). They began hanging out with the gang in childhood, just before age 12, and at the time of the study, 40 percent reported having a boyfriend in a gang and 80 percent said they had a good friend in a male gang. Gang associations led to the girls’ involvement in delinquent and criminal activities, including holding drugs (55 percent), selling
ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

drugs 6 Juvenile Justice Bulletin “Students who feel vulnerable at school may seek protection in the gang.
Popular Culture
Apart from personal reasons for joining a gang, media presentations make gangs seem very appealing (Miller, 1992).
The “hip” lifestyle and sensational portrayals of gangs and their members have a significant influence, particularly on more susceptible youth, for reasons that Walter B. Miller (2001, p. 46) aptly explains: In the 1950’s, the musical drama West Side Story portrayed gang life as seen through the eyes of adult middle-class writers and presented themes of honor, romantic love, and mild rebellion consistent with the values and perspectives of these writers.
In the 1990’s, the substance of gang life was communicated to national audiences through a new medium known as gangsta rap. For the first time, this lifestyle was portrayed by youthful insiders, not adult outsiders. The character and values of gang life described by the rappers differed radically from the images of West Side Story. Language was rough and insistently obscene; women were prostitutes (“bitches,” “ho’s,” and “sluts”) to be used, beaten, and thrown away; and extreme violence and cruelty, the gang lifestyle, and craziness or insanity were glorified.
Among the rappers’ targets of hatred, scorn, and murder threats were police, especially black police; other races and ethnic groups; society as a whole; and members of rival gangs . . . Gangsta rap strengthened the desire of youth to become part of a gang subculture that was portrayed by the rappers as a glamorous and rewarding lifestyle. Increased media popularization of gang culture has led to the point that now, “most young people recognize the look, the walk, and the talk of gang members. Many mimic it in part or in whole. Many try it out as a personal style. More than one-third of the youth who had not been in gangs had gang members as friends, nearly one-third had worn gang colors, nearly one-quarter had hung out with gang members, and one-fifth had flashed gang signs.
Although they were not recognized as gang members, these girls were “distinctly integrated” into the male gangs (Valdez, 2007, p. 87). They began hanging out with the gang in childhood, just before age 12, and at the time of the study, 40 percent reported having a boyfriend in a gang and 80 percent said they had a good friend in a male gang. Gang associations led to the girls’ involvement in delinquent and criminal activities, including holding drugs (55 percent),

ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

selling drugs 6 Juvenile Justice Bulletin “Students who feel vulnerable at school may seek protection in the gang.

Warning signs
Identifying bonafide gangs is a difficult task. It is important for communities to recognize warning signs of a gang problem. * Graffiti: unusual signs, symbols, or writing on walls, note books, class assignments, or gang “literature” books. * Colors: obvious or subtle colors of clothing, a particular clothing brand, bandanas, jewelry, or hair cuts * Tattoos: symbols on the body * Initiation: suspicious bruises, wounds, or injuries resulting from a “jumping in.” gang initiation have taken place in school restroom, playground, hallways, gymnasium etc. * Hand signs: unusual hand signals or hand shakes * Language: uncommon terms of phrases * Behavior: sudden changes in behavior or secret meetings.
Conclusion
The problems posed by gangs and organized crime in Cargan did not occur overnight. Gangs and gang activity have developed over many years, driven by a plethora of social and situational determinants. The increased availability of weapons and illicit drugs over time has only intensified the gravity of this problem.
Law enforcement agencies are working diligently to combat gangs and organized crime in Cargan. Traditional law enforcement has a vital role to play in stamping out criminal activity but more arrests alone will not solve the gang problem. Instead, we must take a comprehensive, long-term approach – one that systematically reduces the ranks of gangs and organized crime by stopping the recruitment of new gang members. The dynamics of gang formation are complex, and researchers and practitioners have studied them from psychological, sociological, and criminological perspectives.
An approach to this problem requires broad-based, collaborative engagement by all community members – including parents, neighbors, teachers, health professionals, children and youth services, and community-based organizations – working together in new and innovative ways to reduce gang activity in our country. A comprehensive strategy will not take root and grow if
ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

law enforcement and social service agencies and providers are at odds. Gangs and organized crime is taking root in many of our communities and we need to work together to stop this kind of criminal activity from changing the character of our communities. We must recognize this challenge, and take action.
The reduction Strategy, while it will take many years of persistent hard work to systematically neutralize and eradicate gangs and organized crime in Cargan promises to increase our ability to reduce gang-related crime through a firm commitment to integration, technological innovation, efficient and effective use of existing resources and community mobilization – all part of a flexible approach that supports locally-developed solutions from a global perspective. Finally, certain strategic directions and actions are of an ongoing nature and with a broad horizon; for example, keeping Carganians aware and engaged about the issue of gangs and organized crime in their communities and the risk factors that can lead children and youth toward a gang lifestyle.
Strategies (prevention, intervention and suppression, rehabilitation) * Increased public awareness about the nature of gang crime, the factors that contribute to gang involvement, and what resources are in place to address it; * Coordinated action to identify children and youth at risk and prevent them from gang involvement; * Available programming to encourage gang members to leave the gang lifestyle behind for a healthy, productive future; * Greater integration of data sources and intelligence analysis within law enforcement. * Pursue legislative amendments to support ongoing efforts to reduce gang -related crime and violence and ensure that legislation is regularly reviewed and updated. * Continue integration among specialized law enforcement units and encourage close working relationships with community stake holders. * Build community capacity through increased public awareness about issues related to gang and organized crime activities. * Political leadership in moral terms to proclaim a compelling vision and sustain attention to nationwide goals, and in practical terms to convene collaborative meetings and publicly devote time and energy to gang and organized crime issues. * Increase effectiveness of specialized law enforcement units through the enhanced use of expert legal counsel and new legal tools.
ASP. Moncy Duncan
Antigua and Barbuda

* Establish a mechanism for conflict resolution and problem solving that requires full participation of all members. * Broad base community involvement in the creation, validation, and implementation of the strategy, moving toward and proclaiming a new social norm which necessitates the involvement of many elements of society.
References/Bibliography
1. Baccaglini, W.F. (1993). Project Youth Gang-Drug Prevention: A Statewide Research Study 2. Braga, A. and Kennedy, D. (2002). Reducing gang violence in Boston 3. Goldstein, H. (1990), problem-oriented policing New York. Mc Graw Hill 4. Kennedy, D., Piehl, A, and Braga, A. (1996). Youth violence in Boston: gun markets, serious youth violence, and a use reduction strategy, law and contemporary problems. Vol. 59 No.1, pp. 147-196 5. Ministry of social transformation, Antigua and Barbuda 6. Scott H. Decker, Ph.D (2008). Strategies to address crime 7. Spergel, Irving A. (1995). The Youth Gang Problem: A Community Approach. Oxford University 8. Spergel, Irving A. (2007). Reducing Youth Gang Violence: The Little Village Gang Project in Chicago. Altamira Press.

References: Bibliography 1. Baccaglini, W.F. (1993). Project Youth Gang-Drug Prevention: A Statewide Research Study 2. Braga, A. and Kennedy, D. (2002). Reducing gang violence in Boston 3. Goldstein, H. (1990), problem-oriented policing New York. Mc Graw Hill 4. Kennedy, D., Piehl, A, and Braga, A. (1996). Youth violence in Boston: gun markets, serious youth violence, and a use reduction strategy, law and contemporary problems. Vol. 59 No.1, pp. 147-196 5. Ministry of social transformation, Antigua and Barbuda 6. Scott H. Decker, Ph.D (2008). Strategies to address crime 7. Spergel, Irving A. (1995). The Youth Gang Problem: A Community Approach. Oxford University 8. Spergel, Irving A. (2007). Reducing Youth Gang Violence: The Little Village Gang Project in Chicago. Altamira Press.