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Proactive Problem Solving: Gangs1Running head: PROACTIVE PROBLEM SOLVINGProactive Problem Solving for Tomorrow’s Gang YouthJake J. Koppenhaver Juvenile DelinquencyProfessor Robar July 30, 2007
 
Proactive Problem Solving: Gangs2Proactive Problem Solving for Tomorrow’s Gang YouthGangs. For those who have seen gang activity at work—the control over a neighborhood,the aftermath of a shooting, the power over youth—the very word brings emotions ranging fromfear to anger. For those in society who are unaware of true gang nature the media has longsensationalized this activity, and most feelings are based on this. Many think that gangs operatesolely in large, metropolitan areas, and even then only in the “slums,” but the truth is that gangsexist all over the United States. Law enforcement keeps constant intelligence data on gangactivity in order to help deter and reduce gang activity, however like most elements of crime it isa constant battle. It is also true that gangs are not only surviving but growing, with the currentapplicants and future members being the youth of our communities. They offer everything ayouth needs: Companionship, family, monetary gain, and room for growth albeit in a differentway. Experts have held that gang membership thrives in areas which experience economichardship, and according to others this hardship may be what prompts youth to leave the family toenter into gang life. How can we as a community help to deter gang membership? Exploringalternative economic solutions—as well as solutions which cater to the specific type of youthmost at risk for gangs—is the best way to proactively deter gang membership growth and ensurethat youth legitimately and successfully thrive in our communities.In order to come to a solution, an understanding of different aspects of the problem isrequired. Gangs are not a recent trend. While they have existed in some verifiable form in theUnited States since the 19
th
century (KnowGangs, 2007), the 1950’s showed the worst juveniledelinquency statistics the world had seen. Major cities such as New York enacted curfews to helpcurb this issue, however at the time not many studies had been performed to realize thewidespread activity and cause of such delinquency rates. Due to many offenders being placed in jails, the corrections system began seeing a surge in large gangs forming inside prisons across the
 
Proactive Problem Solving: Gangs3country. The revolutionary nature of the 1960’s did little to help, although certain areas saw adecline in blatant gang activity, possibly due to a combination of semi-successful community programs and increased political awareness, prompting legitimate social activities (Siegel &Welsh, 2005). The Vietnam War also saw many members drafted from the streets whichdecreased gang populations. The 1970’s saw a surge in gang activity, primarily in large areassuch as New York. In 1971 gangs such as the Savage Skulls and Black Assassins ruled the streetsof the South Bronx area, and by 1975 the New York Police Department reported 275 knowngangs with eleven thousands confirmed members (Ibid.). New York was not alone, other metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and Chicago reported similar gangs re-emergences. Soonafter, members of larger gangs began migrating to other areas to gain membership or take over rival gangs. For example, the largest two gangs of Los Angeles, the famous Bloods and Crips,saw membership emerge in Midwestern cities such as Columbus, Ohio. This expansion of gangmembership and activity has done very little to slow since the 1970’s and continues to this day,strengthened by areas which gang activity thrives in, the gang “clusters” which comprise thearea, which become increasingly resistant to change and law enforcement actions.Experts have determined various reasons why gangs re-emerged, however the biggestreason may be seen in their hold on the illegal narcotics market. Many early gangs relied ongroup loyalty, honor, and neighborhood protection to fuel their membership. Modern gangs onthe other hand are generally fueled by monetary gain through the quest for drug profits (Padilla,1992). Street gangs, who were once often no more than a group of disorganized, destructive juveniles looking for companionship and an escape from social issues now control much of thedrug trade, even replacing the larger organized crime families in many large cities. This quest for illegal profit may show that the socio-economic climate of that period of time (which continuesin many ways to today) has given fuel to much of the modern gang activity we see. Recent
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