Troubled Youth

Gangs can be found in every culture or race. According to NCJS (National Criminal Justice Reference Service) there are over 24,500 gangs alone in the United States. Gangs are considered to be a group of 3 or more individuals that come together and share a common identity. Surprisingly gangs appeal to juveniles and this has been an on going problem for many years. “Youth groups known as gangs are certainly not inventions of twentieth century American society, for such groups have existed since at least the early fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in Europe” (Shelden) In the twentieth century the major reason for juveniles to join gangs is due to child maltreatment, and its up to the community to help put a stop to these gangs.

As talked about earlier maltreatment causes the juvenile to partake in criminal behavior, in some cases this behavior leads too much more then just delinquency. The maltreatment of juvenile is another major reason why juveniles turn to gangs. The book entitled “Youth Gangs in American Society” states “Studies have shown that gang members have plenty of experience with violence while growing up. Such youths have seen and been victimized by violence in their homes and in their communities.” Juveniles that are used to being victimized in their home, now feel comfortable with violence in their everyday life. Youth gangs are known for thier violence that they cause, maltreatment in the home predisposes juveniles to the violence that they will encounter in gangs. This causes the juvenile to not raise objections to the violence that occurs in gangs. “Gang youths accepted violence as the normal and appropriate way to resolve minor and major disputes. These youths have come to believe that there is no nonviolent method for dealing with daily disputes and other problems in life” (Shelden). Gang members use violence to resolve issues not only between members, but between other gangs as well. This is a normal occurrence for these juveniles, thus juveniles do not resist this aspect of gang life.

Violence is a big part of gang life and the gang environment, juveniles the spawn from maltreated homes don’t question this behavior. But what makes these juveniles create their final decision and jump into gangs? According to the Shelden there are several different items that help in this decision making, again all of these can be linked back to child maltreatment. The first one is that of material reason, juveniles feel that joining gangs increases their finical chances. Unfortunately this is finical gain is threw criminal activities. Most juveniles that partake in gangs come from a low income or single parent home. In many cause this leads to the neglecting of the juvenile. Once the juvenile understands that they are in a low income home, they will strive to obtain finical stability that is not provided for them. This comes easily to gang members because of the criminal behavior that they participate in. Next is recreation, when gangs provide juveniles with something to do once again can be linked back to neglect. Juveniles need to be entertained, with parents that are not around for their children, these children have little guidance and little activities to keep them busy, gangs provided them with this entertainment. A place of refuge and camouflage is next up on our list. Gangs provide their members protection and identity. Again going back to that neglected juvenile, gangs provided the juvenile with a sense of identity, that could have other wised be found in the home. Physical protection is a major part of juveniles becoming gang affiliated. In low income neighborhoods crime can be found almost everywhere. This includes crime against individuals, such as robbery or even car jacking. Gang member normally unite in groups, this group gives a single individual protection from these personal crimes. Subsequently gangs can be seen as a way of resistance. Children in maltreated homes despise their parents, thus they will do what they can to avoid becoming like them. Some feel that gangs are an opportunity to resist becoming like their parents. This can be linked to the first financial gain, juveniles feel that with better finances they will be able to further or better themselves, far more then their parents.

Juvenile gangs and gang affiliation is just one more detrimental effect of child maltreatment. Neglect is the one key maltreatment that is echoed threw juveniles gang involvement. As a community it is up to us to help these juveniles. One major way for this is after school programs, “or a safe structured activities that convene regularly in the hours after school and offer activities to help children lean new skills, and develop into responsible adults” (Youth). These programs can lead children to be accountable, either to the program or to the adults that may work there. The parenting style normally affiliated with child neglect is the uninvolved parent, again this parenting style cause the child to lack accountability and responsibilities. After school programs are just one way to help put these back into place.

Resources

National Criminal Justice Reference Service. “OJJDP Fact Sheet.” Feb 2004 http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/fs200204.pdf

Shelden,Randall. Tracy,Sharon.Brown,William. Youth Gangs in American Society. Thomson Wadsworth. United States. 2004

Youth Violence Prevention. “After school Programs Fact Sheet.” ttp://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/facts/afterschool.asp