What Goes Around Comes Back Around...Eventually

Gangs

Taken From: Computers, Cellos, & Call-in Radio: Violence Prevention Tools for the ‘90s. By Susan Smith, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, 1994.

One of the most disturbing, not to mention frightening, aspects of youth violence is the widespread emergence of street gangs. Although gangs have been around for years (remember the street urchins in Oliver Twist?), their character has become increasingly sinister. Rumors abound about gang initiation rituals, and law-abiding citizens wonder if they’ll be the next victims.

Although media coverage would suggest that gangs are responsible for mass, random acts of violence perpetrated on innocent bystanders, these occurrences are relatively rare. In fact, the likelihood of a nonmember becoming the victim is about 1 in 4 million.[1]

Steve Nawojczyk, longtime Pulaski County (Arkansas) coroner, has become quite an expert on gang activities. To put it mildly, his tactics are considered eccentric: he takes photographs of gang casualties into high-crime communities to show kids that no matter what “colors” they wear, everyone bleeds red. On the subject of gang violence, Nawojczyk said, “The police can arrest and jail every gang member they find and they’ll never get through. The time to solve gang violence is in grades K through three.”

The common denominators of gang membership are family disintegration and economic deprivation. Although gangs exist in suburban and rural areas, they flourish in poverty-stricken inner cities. Ethnic stereotyping of gangs is a common mistake. They may be white, black, Latino, Asian, or racially integrated. The purpose of some gangs is social activity and entertainment; others serve as economic support groups.

According to Jack Hynes, Assistant State’s Attorney in Chicago, gang youths are not being exposed to positive influences. Many have witnessed or experienced substance abuse or physical abuse, and few have received adequate structured supervision early in their lives.[2]

For young people with weak support groups, gang membership supplies identity, protection, understanding, and status. Frequently, gang membership offers a means of accomplishing goals that are otherwise unattainable. In a recent interview, a young gang member said, “The odds of my surviving may only be 50% since I joined a gang, but if I hadn’t joined they would be 0%.” And although many of us assume a strong connection between gangs and drugs, research suggests that it’s rare for gangs to organize their activities exclusively around the sale of drugs.

Gang structures vary as much as gang definitions. There may be one or more “O.G.s” (Original Gangsters) who are violent criminals and who are very active in the gang. “O.G.s” are not necessarily old, just committed. The “associate” knows people in the gang, but is not deeply involved in gang activities and is therefore note likely to engage in negative behavior. “Wannabes” are infatuated with gangs.[3] Some authorities believe wannabes are more dangerous than actual gang members, since they may be willing to engage in violent behavior to achieve gang recognition.

The prime time to address gang violence is before it takes place. If your community is still untouched by gangs, you’re either very lucky or you’ve made sure there are lots of interesting diversions for your neighborhood’s children. Bored kids may find gangs their only source of entertainment. And don’t forget why kids join gangs in the first place: for acceptance, for fellowship, and for protection. Sports, civic clubs, recreation centers, churches, and schools can all play a part in providing these needs.

Several indications point to the presence of gangs in a community. Gang members often wear certain colors, use hand signs, and display specific graffiti and gang tattoos, most of which are the do-it-yourself variety. They may “dis” (disrespect) another gang by displaying its graffiti upside down.

Although it’s easier to keep gangs away then to eliminate them, the existence of gangs in a community needn’t be cause for panic. The same activities and resources used to prevent gangs—i.e., sports, churches, etc.—may be helpful in minimizing the number of new recruits. Schools can play an important part in educating parents and students about the dangers of gang life.

If, and we certainly hope this doesn’t happen, you think your child may be involved with a gang, try to stay calm. Occasionally, children who are not members wear the “colors” so they can feel safe in a gang neighborhood. If your child is a “wannabe,” there may still be time to intervene. It’s crucial to remember, though, that when kids “wannabe” bad enough, they usually will. If your child is already a gang member, give him or her extra attention and try to help redirect gang activities toward something more acceptable. We wouldn’t encourage you to try to get him or her to quit. Penalties for disengaging from gang life can be extreme and violent. One young Little Rock gang member was told that the only way out of his gang was to kill his mother. He opted for suicide.

[1] Garnett, Donna Maria. “Dimensions of Youth Violence.” Kids and Violence (National Governors’ Association, 1994)

[2] Interview with Assistant State’s Attorney Jack Hynes, head of the gang crimes unit in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, March 27, 1991 as quoted in Street Gangs: Current Knowledge and Strategies. (National Institute of Justice, August, 1993)

[3] Interview with Lonnie Jackson, director of the gang program at the Maclaren School, Woodburn, Oregon, March 22, 1991 as quoted in Street Gangs: Current Knowledge and Strategies. (National Institute of Justice, August, 1993)