Personal Elements Of Gang Life
Personal attributes that are elements of gang life. Include but limited to have low self-esteem, socially inept, and have sociopathic characteristics. Research also tells us that joining a gang is a life time commitment. However, from the research we have today that is now a lie to a certain extent. While there are some who do commit their whole life to gang activities. Studies from 3 longitudinal studies shows us that one-half to two-thirds are members of the gang for 1 year or less.
On the other hand we have peer groups, schools, and community factors that also contribute factors. Gang affiliation was s high level of interaction with antisocial peers and low level of interaction with prosocial peers. Researchers gathered this information
through a cornucopia of studies. That included exposure to delinquent peers, attachment to delinquent peers, and commitment to delinquent peer. And the results of these studies suggest that association with delinquent peers is one of the strongest predictors of gang membership.
However, there are prevention strategies in tact that research helped to fight back against juveniles in gangs. Which consists of primary prevention, which focuses on the entire population of at risk and the identification of those conditions. Secondary prevention which targets those individuals who are identified as being a greater risk. And tertiary prevention focuses on those already involved criminal activity.
Primary prevention: school-based prevention programs have programs like (G.R.E.A.T) which stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training program. Which was used in phoenix in 1991 to give their students the tools to resist the lure and traps of gangs. The program is a 9 week course that teaches students conflict resolution skills, cultural sensitivity, and the negative aspect of gang life. The secondary prevention: Boys and Girls clubs of America program and the Montreal program. Aims to aggressively reach youth at risk of gang involvement and place them in programs the club offers. While teaching them communication skills, problem solving techniques, and decision making abilities. This program is designed for those who are at risk youth of joining gangs. And lastly, Tertiary prevention which has past projects such as the “Flying squad” in the 1990’s the Chicago police department chose police officers from 3 gang units to give an impression of an omnipresent police presence. And sending the officers to Gang Crime sections and taking up areas up to 5 blocks every night.
On the other hand we have peer groups, schools, and community factors that also contribute factors. Gang affiliation was s high level of interaction with antisocial peers and low level of interaction with prosocial peers. Researchers gathered this information
through a cornucopia of studies. That included exposure to delinquent peers, attachment to delinquent peers, and commitment to delinquent peer. And the results of these studies suggest that association with delinquent peers is one of the strongest predictors of gang membership.
However, there are prevention strategies in tact that research helped to fight back against juveniles in gangs. Which consists of primary prevention, which focuses on the entire population of at risk and the identification of those conditions. Secondary prevention which targets those individuals who are identified as being a greater risk. And tertiary prevention focuses on those already involved criminal activity.
Primary prevention: school-based prevention programs have programs like (G.R.E.A.T) which stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training program. Which was used in phoenix in 1991 to give their students the tools to resist the lure and traps of gangs. The program is a 9 week course that teaches students conflict resolution skills, cultural sensitivity, and the negative aspect of gang life. The secondary prevention: Boys and Girls clubs of America program and the Montreal program. Aims to aggressively reach youth at risk of gang involvement and place them in programs the club offers. While teaching them communication skills, problem solving techniques, and decision making abilities. This program is designed for those who are at risk youth of joining gangs. And lastly, Tertiary prevention which has past projects such as the “Flying squad” in the 1990’s the Chicago police department chose police officers from 3 gang units to give an impression of an omnipresent police presence. And sending the officers to Gang Crime sections and taking up areas up to 5 blocks every night.