Drive-by shootings, prostitution, rape, vandalism, and drug trafficking all sound like acts that would committed by hardened adult criminals. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Juvenile gang members are committing these terrifying acts as early as eight years of age (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). Between 1988 and the early 1990s, a drastic increase in youth gang membership occurred and is still on the rise today in the United States (Bartollas & Miller, 2014).
There are several speculations as to what drives juveniles to join gangs and commit such crimes. Block and Niederhoffer theorized that gang affiliation is a Normal Part of Growing Up. According to Block and Neiderhoffer, male adolescents need certain experiences when going through …show more content…
Subcultural Affiliation states that there is a distinct lower class in society who commits crime. According to Miller, juveniles exhibit gang behavior as an expression of their culture (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). Gang behavior can also be seen as a way to vent anger and frustration.
Yablonsky’s Social Disorganization theory bears some resemblance to Miller’s Subcultural Affiliation theory. Both theorists believe that gang affiliation is the product of a lower class in society. Yablonsky’s theory of Social Disorganization states that violent gangs emerge due to certain conditions in urban slums that encourage sociopathic personalities and behaviors (Bartollas & Miller, 2014).
Fagan and colleagues believe that poverty is a gateway for gang affiliation. Those who live in poverty-stricken areas are not given the same opportunities as those in the middle and upper-classes. The Underclass Theory states that members of the underclass are drawn to economic alternatives such as welfare, drug trafficking, prostitution, gang membership, and other illegal activity (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). These activities become a means of surviving for some, and gangs offer an alternative source of income for most …show more content…
It was found that juveniles affiliated with or members of gangs were more likely to be involved in violent behavior than those not involved with gangs. There were stages identified in the process of gang emergence (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In stage one, gang leaders see ripe drug markets outside of the major cities. They realize that they could profit more from these areas. At this point they recruit juveniles to sell their drugs in return for money. This step is known as the implementation step (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In step two, the leader explains the gang’s signs, clothing, and the rules of the gang. The basic job is still to sell drugs, but now there is now competition from other gangs as well. Violence enters the community, and police become aware of the danger emerging. This step is known as the expansion and conflict step (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In step three, more members are added to the gang, and initiation begins occurring. Pressure is placed on African Americans to join the gang. This is known as the organization and consolidation step. (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In stage four, competition between gangs causes conflicts in public places such as schools and parks. African American gang members wear clothes to represent their gangs. This is known as the gang intimidation and community reaction stage (Bartollas & Miller, 2014).In stage five, drugs are sold public. Threats are
There are several speculations as to what drives juveniles to join gangs and commit such crimes. Block and Niederhoffer theorized that gang affiliation is a Normal Part of Growing Up. According to Block and Neiderhoffer, male adolescents need certain experiences when going through …show more content…
Subcultural Affiliation states that there is a distinct lower class in society who commits crime. According to Miller, juveniles exhibit gang behavior as an expression of their culture (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). Gang behavior can also be seen as a way to vent anger and frustration.
Yablonsky’s Social Disorganization theory bears some resemblance to Miller’s Subcultural Affiliation theory. Both theorists believe that gang affiliation is the product of a lower class in society. Yablonsky’s theory of Social Disorganization states that violent gangs emerge due to certain conditions in urban slums that encourage sociopathic personalities and behaviors (Bartollas & Miller, 2014).
Fagan and colleagues believe that poverty is a gateway for gang affiliation. Those who live in poverty-stricken areas are not given the same opportunities as those in the middle and upper-classes. The Underclass Theory states that members of the underclass are drawn to economic alternatives such as welfare, drug trafficking, prostitution, gang membership, and other illegal activity (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). These activities become a means of surviving for some, and gangs offer an alternative source of income for most …show more content…
It was found that juveniles affiliated with or members of gangs were more likely to be involved in violent behavior than those not involved with gangs. There were stages identified in the process of gang emergence (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In stage one, gang leaders see ripe drug markets outside of the major cities. They realize that they could profit more from these areas. At this point they recruit juveniles to sell their drugs in return for money. This step is known as the implementation step (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In step two, the leader explains the gang’s signs, clothing, and the rules of the gang. The basic job is still to sell drugs, but now there is now competition from other gangs as well. Violence enters the community, and police become aware of the danger emerging. This step is known as the expansion and conflict step (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In step three, more members are added to the gang, and initiation begins occurring. Pressure is placed on African Americans to join the gang. This is known as the organization and consolidation step. (Bartollas & Miller, 2014). In stage four, competition between gangs causes conflicts in public places such as schools and parks. African American gang members wear clothes to represent their gangs. This is known as the gang intimidation and community reaction stage (Bartollas & Miller, 2014).In stage five, drugs are sold public. Threats are