Gangs

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the existence of gangs in the United States can be traced back to the early 1800s and how it was the years following the Civil War, and the subsequent World Wars that gave rise to the number gangs. It looks at how, over the decades, gangs have become not only a major concern for the United States, but for other countries as well. It discusses how gangs are not confined to neighborhood streets, but can be found behind prison walls and how technology has allowed gangs to communicate worldwide. It also shows how today, all three elements, street gangs, prison gangs and global gangs are interconnected.

From the Paper:

"The existence of gangs can be traced back to ancient civilizations, however the first identified gang in the United States, was formed in 1820 in the Five Points District of New York City (Allender 2001). The end of the Civil War saw large-scale criminal activity on the part of a few veterans who had trouble returning to a peaceful society (Allender 2001). Following World War II, veterans returning home formed motorcycle clubs, and while most were social groups, a few, such as the Hell's Angels, began to engage in criminal activities (Allender 2001). Ethnic groups, including Asians, Italians, Jews, Jamaicans, and many others, formed gangs due to the prejudice and discrimination that they had to deal with and which alienated them from mainstream society (Allender 2001)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Allender, David M. (2001 December 01). Gangs in Middle America: Are they a threat? The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Retrieved March 23 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Daily, Wes. (2003 December 01). Pocketguide to Gangs Across America and Their Symbols. The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Retrieved March 23 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Danitz, Tiffany. (1998 September 28). The gangs behind bars.Insight on the News. Retrieved March 23 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Marcell, Frank. (2003 June 01). Career criminals, security threat groups, and prison gangs an interrelated threat. The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Retrieved March 28 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Martinez, Liz. (2005 February 01). Gangs in Indian Country: the growing phenomenon of Native American gangs. Law Enforcement Technology. Retrieved March 23 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.

More papers on Gangs:

• Argumentative Essay # 150226 : "Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and Organized Crime"
• Research Paper # 95868 : "Hispanic Drug Gangs"
• Analytical Essay # 134692 : "Gangs and Drugs: Suppression vs. Intervention"
• Analytical Essay # 134392 : "Explaining Youth Gangs in Central Canada"

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