Analysis of Youth Gangs 40 Boardman Place San

Analysis of Youth Gangs 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

YOUTH GANGS v Street Gangs existed throughout history v Prominent Feature of Roman society v 1703 Hospice San Michele established by Pope Clement XI v. Hoodlum gang of San Francisco 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Changing Context of Youth Gangs • Crime among gangs is nothing new, except for changes in technology and changing social conditions • Gangs have become part of an emerging underclass of marginalized minority youth, as a greater percentage now remain with the gang well into their 20 s and 30 s (and beyond) • In earlier times most moved away from gang life into jobs, the service, etc. as gang life was a transitory phenomenon. • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=O 2 x 4 KAAN 27 k 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

What is a Gang? • The main point in this section of the book is that there is little consensus on what a gang is. • The word “gang” has both positive and negative meanings. – The thesaurus gives such synonyms as “pack, ” “group, ” “company, ” and “team. ” • In many studies researchers have often used whatever definition was used by the police. • Many researchers have apparently confused the term group with the term gang and have proceeded to expand the definition in such a way as to include every group of youths who commit offenses together. • Most definitions focus almost exclusively on delinquent or criminal behavior as the distinguishing feature that differentiates gangs from other groups. – This is mostly taken from law enforcement sources where the main object has been not to understand the problem but to control or eliminate it. • Similar problems emerge when trying to define a “gang‑related offense. ” – Not to mention problems related to determining who is a “gang member. ” 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

How Many Gangs Are There? • This is almost impossible to know. • Federal gang intervention dollars designated for police departments creates incentives to identify gang problems 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Gangs and Crime • While it is true that gang members commit a lot of crime, most of it is concentrated in small geographic areas. – They account for a very small percentage of all index crimes in a county or city. • Gang members commit a “garden variety” or “cafeteria style” of offenses (for example, burglaries, petty theft, vandalism, fighting, and truancy). • The major victims of gang violence are other gang members. • Homicide is the exception. • Note the study by Mc. Corkle and Miethe in Las Vegas and Reno – During a 10 year period, gang members accounted for under 7% of all violent crimes and less than 10% of all felony drug defendants in District Courts • Research does document that youths who are gang members commit more crimes than non gang members. 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Gangs and Crime (cont’d) • Research sponsored by the LA District Attorney concluded that “the crimes themselves are not committed on behalf of the gang, nor are proceeds shared. The individuals (or groups, which may include non‑gang members as well as homeboys) who commit such crimes do so for their own reasons and by their own rules and that includes drug dealing. ” • This fact is important to underscore, because it contradicts theory underlying most gang‑enhancement statutes (which increase the punishment if the crime is gang‑related), which suggests that gang crimes are committed on behalf of the gang. 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

What do Gang Members Do? • Noted gang researcher Malcolm Klein notes that gang life is rather boring and in fact “the only thing that is equally boring is being a researcher watching gang members. ” • When they hang out it is usually by a park, by a taco stand, and they are “smoking, drinking, roughhousing, playing a pickup ball game, messing with a few girls, or sauntering up a street in a possessive, get outta our way fashion. ” • When they do get involved in crime, it is either fighting (mostly with other gangs) or hustling, which included petty theft and drug sales. • What about drugs? – One researcher stated that drug selling “for most gang members is just another low‑paying job one that might guarantee ‘survival, ’ but not much else. ” 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

What Do Gangs and Gang Members Look Like? • Gang and Gang Member Typologies – It is important to note that these are “ideal types” and not all gangs or gang members fit neatly into one or another category. • Types of Gangs • Hedonistic/social gangs • Party gangs • Instrumental gangs • Predatory gangs • Scavenger gangs • Serious delinquent gangs • Territorial gangs • Organized/corporate gangs • Drug gangs 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

What Do Gangs and Gang Members Look Like? • Types of Gang Members (based upon the degree of attachment to and involvement in the gang) – Regulars/hard core – Peripheral – Temporary – Situational – At Risk – Wannabe – Veteranos/O. G. s – Auxiliary 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

People and Folks • A formation starting within the Illinois prison system • Mostly white Simon City Royals agreed to provide drugs to inmates who belonged to the Black Disciples in exchange for protection – Folks (represented in graffiti by a six‑pointed star). • In response to this alliance, the Latin Kings aligned themselves with the Vice Lords and the El Rukns – People (represented by a five‑pointed star). • Currently about 110 gangs with 30, 000 – 50, 000 members • Many have spread to other parts of the country, as families and individuals move – No evidence of “franchising” 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Graffiti • http: //www. nbcchicago. com/news/local/chicago gang signs colors hand gestures. html 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Hybrid Gangs • New Groupings having nontraditional features – may or may not have an allegiance to a traditional gang color and some have multiple symbols in their graffiti – may adopt the symbols of large gangs in more than one city – some members may change their affiliation from one gang to another – some members may claim multiple affiliations – existing gangs may change their names or suddenly merge with other gangs to form new ones – some may be diverse in both race/ethnicity and gender – some members who relocate from California to the Midwest may align themselves with a local gang that has no ties to their original gang – some members of rival gangs from Chicago or Los Angeles frequently cooperate in criminal activity in other parts of the country • Youth in these sorts of gangs often “cut and paste” bits of Hollywood’s media images and big city gang lore into new local versions of nationally known 40 Boardman www. cjcj. org gangs with which they may claim. Place affiliation San Francisco, CA 94103 © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Ethnic and Racial Typologies • In a class and racially diverse society it should come as no surprise that there is great diversity among gangs • Chicano Gangs – Longest known gangs in So. Calif. with more than 500 varieties – Two main groupings in California emerging from the prison system • Norte 14 – Northern Calif. • Sur 13 – Southern Calif. – based in neighborhoods where Chicanos have lived for several generations, esp. in So. Calif. – Arise from the many “stressors” in their lives which often leads to “multiple marginality. ” 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Chicano “Families” • Joan Moore describes these gangs in the following way: – “The age graded gang is one among many barrio structures in which boys play a role; it may be the only structure in which they play a reasonably autonomous role. ” – She also notes that the Chicano sub culture is more than just “machismo, ” as there is a sense of belongingness, a feeling of family. “The isolated individual is a rarity in the barrios. . . It is no accident that gang members refer to each other as homeboys. Even in adulthood, when two strangers discover that they are homies they open up to each other as if they were, in fact, members of the same family. ” • She described two of the oldest gangs in East Los Angeles: White Fence and El Hoyo Maravilla – Started in the late 1930 s and early 1940 s as sports groups – The early Hoyo gang was more like a modern gang than the original White Fence group. – These were the “zoot suiters” or “pachucos” and their neighborhood was one that was invaded by white servicemen during the Zoot-Suit riots in 1941. Like the original White Fence group, the war separated them and left many younger kids to carry on the tradition 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Age graded “cliques” • These are the “building blocks” of Gangs – They develop as older members mature and break with the gang and younger kids form their own cliques – White Fence and Hoyo Maravilla still have “sets” living in the LA area – Similar process occurs with other kinds of gangs, such as black gangs. – Over time these gangs reproduce themselves – Many generations of gangs exist, where it is not uncommon to find men and women in their 50 s or 60 s still claiming some affiliation, although not very active – One reason is the importance of “turf” or “barrio” as well as “family” (“barrio” and family often used interchangeably) – Many feel the need to continue these traditions – Prison experiences (some starting with “juvi”) usually reinforce gang affiliation • Depicted in the film “American Me” 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Asian Gangs • Police find that Asian gangs are difficult to penetrate, as they are extremely secretive. • Asian gangs generally victimize people from their own culture; therefore, the victims usually fail to report the crimes to the police. • Also, most members are clean cut and polite and act with respect toward law enforcement. • The gangs are highly entrepreneurial in nature • Most are relatively recent immigrants, from very poor backgrounds, and subjected to much racism and discrimination. They developed gangs partly as a response to these conditions. • Many Vietnamese Americans “keep large amounts of cash and gold within their homes. • Knowing this, the youth gangs survey a residence and enter the home armed with handguns, usually in small groups of four or five persons. 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Chinese gangs • They are closely associated with powerful community organizations. • They tend to invest in legitimate businesses and spend a lot of their time in these pursuits. • Many have national and even international networks. • They have been heavily influenced by Chinese secret societies. • They are involved in serious forms of mostly property crimes, and they control large amounts of money. • Monetary profit is their main goal. • They most commonly victimize local businesses. • Differ from African American and Hispanic gangs in three ways. – not based on youth fads or illicit drug use; instead, they are closely related to their community’s social and economic life. – do not operate in deteriorated, poor neighborhoods. – are embedded in the legendary Triad subculture and thus claim legitimacy in the Chinese community 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Filipino Gangs • similar in structure and operation to Hispanic gangs and often affiliate with them in the Western United States • Began in the 1940 s in the prison system of California. • Many left the Philippines during the 1970 s and early 1980 s at the height of political unrest in that country. • As the children of these immigrants began to attend school, there were cultural confrontations and confrontations with street gangs. • To defend themselves, they began to form their own gangs with other members of their families. – These family groupings became cliques or sets within each gang 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

African-American Gangs • These youth are drawn into gangs in order to develop a sense of belonging, identity, power, security, and discipline • The Crips and Bloods have so influenced African American street gangs in Los Angeles that the only distinction between the thousands of gang members is the blue and the red colors. • Crips do not use words starting with the letter “B” and Bloods do not use words starting with the letter “C. ” – Crips often refer to themselves as “cuzz, ” while bloods often call each other “Piru. ” • Typically African American gang members will ask the question, “What set you from? ” – This is asking for the individual’s gang affiliation 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

White Gangs • White youths make up only about 10% of the nation’s gang population – However this may stem from a racial bias where white kids are less likely to be labeled as “gangs” even though they often act like a gang (see note 117) • Since the late 1970 s white teenagers have been forming groups based on an interest in punk rock music and the social attitudes it represents. – These attitudes include helplessness, anger, and rebellion. – Many view the world as offering scant opportunity for individual self expression. – Both the listeners and the performers in the punk rock scene exhibit behavior that is both angry and violent, mostly for shock value. – There are, however, groups of punkers who are very involved in drugs and alcohol, which leads to more involvement in crimes. 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Skinheads • Started in the early 1980 s. • Skinhead gangs in the US rooted in a similar movement in England during the late 1950 s (one group called the Teddy Boys), but the original skinheads were black Jamaica immigrants to England (“Rude Boys”) who had close shaven heads and a music style that was eventually adopted by white working class youth in Britain. – While not avowedly racist, these skinheads adopted a very conservative, working class view of the world. – By 1972, with police harassment and political pressures, the British skinhead movement diminished, only to be replaced with the emergence of “punks” as the new form of skinheads. – These groups were even more flamboyant than the original skinheads, as they sported boots, jeans, and suspenders and added the swastika as a prominent tattoo • There are racist and non racist subgroupings. – the racist skinheads advocate white supremacy – the non racist Skinheads have a multi racial membership. – Examples of the former include the SHARPs (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice) or SARs (Skinheads Against Racism) • Some are “separatists” groups (survivalists) – An example of racist groups are “political skinheads” like the White Aryan Resistance or the Aryan Brotherhood • 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Skinheads Southern California • modeled themselves after British skinheads. • The music was an important component, with music bands like Sham 69, Skrewdriver, and The Four Skins • resembled other gangs via identification with specific turfs. – Huntington Beach Skins, Chino Hills Skins, South Bay Skins, Norwalk Skins and the like. – Sometimes they marked parks as their turf and used graffiti “tags” to identify themselves. • “punk rock” provided a subcultural foundation for the development of skinheads. – most of the original skinhead groups came directly from the punk scene. – rejected left wing political movements—a result of the anxiety of a rapidly changing world that ignored the white working class. – A key belief was that white youth were victimized by several outside social forces (e. g. , minority street gangs, affirmative action programs, etc. ). – many skinheads began to construct a racist ideology that included, in part, neo Nazism. • Many ended up in prison further solidifying their commitment to skinhead values – mostly from their association with powerful and notorious prison gangs, such as the Aryan Brotherhood (AB), who were already a strong force within the California prison system before the skinheads emerged. 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Stoners • Mostly white suburban youths from a higher socioeconomic background than most other gangs. • Study by Wooden of stoners in the CYA is one of the few done – – – Above avg. IQ, yet not of the 72 graduated from high school Most had work histories Heavily involved in drugs and alcohol into heavy metal music Some into Satanism – Mostly white and from So. Calif. 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Taggers • Use a form of graffiti known as “tagging. ” • Not done to mark “turf, but rather is a way these mostly white and middle class youths call attention to themselves. • Police estimate that in Los Angeles County there at least 600 tagger “crews” with about 30, 000 youths • Younger taggers (10– 15) usually tag around school grounds. • Older youths will go after bigger targets, such as freeway overpasses or bridges, public transportation (especially buses), streetlight poles etc. • Types of graffiti vandalism, each with different motivations – Hate crime graffiti – gang graffiti – Tagger graffiti 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Some Concluding Thoughts • As evidenced by the discussion on “dance and party crews” and “skating crews” law enforcement has a tendency to label all sorts of youth groups as “gangs” or similar labels • There should be some very specific criteria to distinguish among the literally thousands (perhaps millions) of teenagers who engage in skateboarding and rollerblading in virtually every city and small town in the country. • Similarly, one should have some very good criteria to distinguish street gangs bent on criminal activity and kids who go to parties. • Certainly kids will attend parties and engage in activities that incur the wrath of many adults. • Given the elusive definitions of “gangs” and “gang members” plus the millions of dollars in funding to fight gangs is there a tendency on the part of some law enforcement agencies to add every sort of teenage grouping and activities to the term “gang, ” whether or not it is warranted? 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Recent Figures • A recent report found that 80% of the towns and cities where gangs are found reported no gang homicides in 2004 • A Justice Department study found that, “gangmembership tends to be short-lived, even among high-risk youth…with very few youth remaining gang members throughout their adolescent years. ” – Law enforcement estimates of nationwide juvenile gang membership suggest that no more than 1 percent of youth aged 10 17 are gang members. 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013

Getting Tough not working • Incarcerating gang members does not necessarily curb re-offending. – A 2004 Illinois report on recidivism rates of gang members found that more than half (55 percent) of the gang members were re admitted to prisons within a two year follow up. – A study of youth in the Arkansas juvenile justice system found that prior incarceration was a greater predictor of recidivism than carrying a weapon, gang membership, or poor parental relationship 40 Boardman Place San Francisco, CA 94103 www. cjcj. org © Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 2013