Abstract
This paper discusses gang violence as a multi-generational problem in many communities. Many gangs are decades old, and solutions to the gang violence problem have been sought after for equally as long. The paper explores the structure and roots of gang violence, future trends, and proven solutions to the problem. It concludes that early intervention, as well as providing safe havens for youth at risk in troubled neighborhoods, are valuable tools to help stem the tide of gang violence.

From the Paper
"Gangs undertake a variety of criminal pursuits, and the level of violence that is perpetrated by the gang is directly related to the particular crimes that are committed. The drug trade is the primary involvement of the gangs. Gangs are also involved in intimidation, robbery, and other acts of violence as well. There is an increasing trend among gangs becoming involved in less traditional crimes, and becoming involved in identity theft and credit card fraud. (2005 National Gang Threat Assessment p. 4) The gangs are also becoming involved more and more with organized crime. The organized crime syndicates include the Mexican and South American drug cartels, Russian Organized crime, Asian Crime families, the more recognizable La Cosa Nostra (Mafia) and assorted other group throughout the world. (id p. 6) Gangs are also availing themselves to technology. The technology of choice by the gang members is the push-to-talk cell phone. This is of particular use in coordinating efforts of the individual members regardless of the criminal undertaking. The gangs also make use of the internet, postings on websites to communicate with members and notify them of event dates, as well as boasting of recent illicit activities. (id p.4)"

Tags:ethnic, Hispanic, Asian, organized, crime, delinquency

Abstract
The primary research question that investigated through the conduct of this research paper was: Are there specific characteristics of the lives of adolescents that are linked to violent behaviors in school environments, and, if so, what are these characteristics? Three hypotheses were formulated and tested in this study. Firstly, adolescents from dysfunctional and functional families are characterized by a higher frequency of violent offending in school than persons from stable families; secondly, adolescents who use illegal drugs are characterized by a higher frequency of violent offending in school than students who do not use such drugs; and, thirdly, adolescents who are affiliated with street gangs are characterized by a higher frequency of violent offending in school than students with no such affiliations.
The major conclusion drawn from the study findings was that violent behavior on the part of adolescents in school environments are linked directly to characteristics of the lives of adolescents. A second conclusion drawn was that the sociological theory of interaction is useful in explaining adolescent violent behavior. The paper includes tables.

From the Paper
"Crime, especially violent criminal behavior, by teenagers is a major social and criminal justice problem in the contemporary United States (Brantly & DiRosa, 1994). In the face of numerous initiatives from all levels of government, however, criminal and violent behavior has continued to increase in frequency. A wide variety of explanations are offered for this phenomenon; however, few such explanations have proved valid over the long-term (Wilson, 1994). One explanation offered for the increase in juvenile criminal and violent behavior is desensitization."

Tags:interactionism, juvenile, criminal, substance, abuse

Abstract
The paper looks at youth gangs: the scope of the problem, statistics, risk factors and prevention strategies. Much focus is placed upon young African-American males and the extent of their gang membership. The author believes that a combination of social opportunities, community organization, and organizational change can be most beneficial in addressing the problem of African-American male youth gangs.

From the Paper
"Estimates of the magnitude of youth gang problems in the United States had steadily increased over the last decades of the twentieth century. Once considered largely an urban phenomenon, gangs have increasingly emerged in smaller communities, presenting a challenge that severely strains local resources. Today's gangs are best characterized by their diversity in ethnic composition, geographical location, organization, and the nature and extent of members' involvement in delinquent or criminal activities. Hispanics have the highest percentage of youth gang membership in the US, however, adolescent African-American males represent a large proportion of the gangs, especially those established in the inner city. Causal risk factors must be explored in order to prioritize prevention and intervention programs to reduce youth gang activity among those communities most affected by adolescent black male gang activity."

Tags:crime, delinquency, drugs, factor, gun, intervention, oppression, protection, underclass, violence, firearms

Abstract
The author looks at several sociological and environmental factors that can be associated with the rise in juvenile violence, whose roots can be traced back to the early 1980s. The author looks that the rise in the numbers of juvenile crimes, the sociological factors that specifically affect juvenile crime, and lastly, examines specific environmental factors that appear to be affecting juvenile crime. The paper looks at this rising trend, that began with changes that the country underwent at the turn of the twentieth century, and the adverse affects they had on the family structure.

From the Paper
"In his popular 1997 book entitled "Kid's Stuff: Toys and the Changing World of American Childhood," author Gary Cross states that, over the course of the twentieth century, American parents "increasingly lost control over and even understanding of the play of their children" (p. 149). The children's entertainment industry developed alongside an advancing technology, and basic toys and games became increasingly complicated and complex as well as increasingly foreign to parental understanding with each passing decade. By the time that the Electronic and Information Age had fully exploded in the 1990s, most parents had fallen so far behind the technological times that effective censorship of the films that their children viewed and the games that their children played had become, in effect, virtually impossible. In the face of a rapidly changing technology, many modern parents simply stopped trying to monitor their children's entertainment activities. With this decrease in parental notice and attention came an increase in violent and criminal content, an exchange that ultimately resulting in an electronic atmosphere and environment that graphically glorifies violence and worships the virtual gods of death and destruction."

Tags:sociologist, violence, crime, morals, youth, littleton, society, century, social, economic, change, transition, working, mothers, brutal, juvenile, weapons, diabilities, learning, groups, peer, relationships, networking, parenting, aggression, rejection, columbine, high, dec

Abstract
This paper explains that the Chicago school theory, a legacy in the field of criminology, hypothesized in the 1920s and 1930s, states that where social institutions, norms and values are no longer functioning, high rates of violence, drug abuse, poverty and disease occur. The author points out pitfalls in this theory such as (1) gangs do not only exist in communities with few personal binds between residents and, even within ghettos, there are dependable residency patterns and strong community member ties and (2) the theory is based on spherical reasoning that is, social disorganization is the reason of criminal behavior, and crime is an indicator of social disorganization. The paper relates that the Chicago School theory fails to grasp that the contemporary street gang is planned as a business usually a drug-dealing business; therefore, this theory can no longer be used to understand these gangs.

From the Paper
"A number of the initial work in the crime appeared from the University of Chicago in the 1920's. The job done at this school recognized long traditions of theories to help explain why crime occurs, and what to do regarding it. It incorporated the work of Robert Park, Ernest Burgess, Frederick Thrasher, and in later years the Chicago School theory of Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay. The crime deterrence plans appeared from this work, such as the Chicago Area Projects which ran for over half a century, were based on a simple notion: the finest unit of analysis to study crime was the neighborhood and the interrelationships of diverse groups within the neighborhood, such as the street gang. The ecology of crime approach used the neighborhood as the level of analysis, and it conceptualizes the neighborhood as a communal ecosystem."

Tags:neighborhood, drug-dealing, disorganization, business, spherical-reasoning

Abstract
This paper explains that, although not one organized and unified group, the formal name of the group, "Crips Street Gang" or "Crips", denotes several loosely connected, extremely violent sub-sets of street gangs, who have broken almost every law, that are located not only in its place of origin but also nationally and internationally. Next, the author reviews their history, activities, court trials, investigative techniques used against them, the agencies involved and the role of the media. The paper concludes by evaluating if the Saint Leo University's (SLU) core values of excellence, community, respect, personal development, responsible stewardship and integrity should be applied to law enforcement.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Name of Group
Year Formed or Acknowledged the Crips Street Gang Began
History of the Gang
Current Activities of the Gang
Significant Court Trials of the Gang or Significant Members
Investigative Techniques or Laws That Could be Used against the Gang
Agencies Primarily Involved in Combating the Gang
Media Treatment of the Crips Street Gang
Discussion of SLU Core Values in Relation to the Topic
How are the Actions Involved in Organized Crime Enforcement Embodied or Reflected in the SLU Core Values?
Would Adoption or Implementation of the Core Values Improve the Performance, Quality, or Integrity of law Enforcement against Organized Crime? Why?

From the Paper
"Homicide and assault for the Crips are mostly done in retribution for offenses made against the group or to silence people who have witnessed some of the more dastardly and criminal act of Crips members. Auto theft and burglary may provide some easy cash but do not really provide the large cash or windfall revenue. Thus, the sale of illegal and prohibited substances became the bread and butter of the gang to the point that distribution of these did not remain only at street level but went national as well. This is especially true when the crack or rock cocaine entered the market in the 1980s.
"When crack became the illicit drug of choice by the users, the demand suddenly outpaced the available supply especially since crack users are not those merely belonging to the lower classes but spread into various social classes. Crack crossed all racial, economic and social barriers. It was not only attractive in the ghetto, but it was equally, if not more attractive, to those living in the suburbs. This drug was an instant money maker for these street gangs. With this new kind of market and large demographic area to supply, the Crips started to innovate and improve their means of selling and distribution."

Tags:bandanas cribs belongingness, undercover agents, implementation

From the Paper
"Juvenile violence has become a major problem in America
today, and the solutions being tried appear not to work. The
juvenile justice system has been addressing these issues for more
than a century, and yet the problem is growing worse rather than
better. In order to address this problem, we have to be more
clear about what causes it and then to address the root cause
rather than fighting violent young people after they have been
made violent. The family is the key, and addressing the real
problems faced by real families is the beginning of a solution.
Any large city in America is beset by instances of violence
every day, from domestic violence to crime in the streets. Upon
occasion there are more blatant and widespread instances of
violence, such as the L.A. riot in 1992. A major problem in the
city.."

Abstract
The paper discusses the street gang problem in the US and what can be done to help curtail gang activity. The paper specifically looks at how Hollywood has helped to glamorize street gangs as well as how the rap music industry glamorizes gangs. The paper then shows how more research is needed to better understand street gangs, since law enforcement on its own is failing to impact the problem.

Outline:
Glamorizing the American Gang Image
Deglamorizing American Street Gangs

From the Paper
"The American street gang problem is one of a layered problem. The image of the American gangster has been glamorized by Americans, and shown to be one way, perhaps the easier way, of accomplishing the American dream. Unfortunately, as anyone living in a major American city like Chicago, Boston, or LA can tell us, there is nothing glamorous about bullets ripping through the paper thin walls of a housing development or finding your own child lying dead in the street before he or she has even reached puberty as a result of gangland violence. American street gangs have evolved, spreading now beyond the cities, to the suburbs and are now doing battle for the rural areas in order to expand the operations that feed the gangland lifestyle: drug marketing and manufacturing, prostitution, coercion, money laundering, and any other illicit vice that might be sold to Americans for a one hundred percent profit. "

Tags:Hollywood, music, gangster, image, violence

Abstract
In this article, the writer explores the trans-national nature of the 18th Street gang. The writer explains that strictly speaking, for a gang to be classified as trans-national, the gang has to have its presence in more than one country. This essay explores the reasons due to which this particular gang finds sympathizers and members in different countries. It is argued here that the motivation to spread out and seek to establish roots in other places is because of the very nature of this gang and because of the history of its inception. The writer maintains that there are widespread consequences for the trans-national nature of the 18th Street Gang. This essay shows that some of the trans-nationalism also comes from trans-culturalism. The writer concludes that illegal immigration and deportation of gang members is the key mechanism by which the 18th Street Gang has become a global gang.

Outline:
Introduction
Precedence for Trans-National Gangs in the United States
Latino Trans-National Gangs
18th Street Gang-Precedence for Trans-Nationalism
18th Street Gang as Trans-National
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Even middle school children are pushed into membership, sometimes against their wills, and eventually undergo initiation. This ensures the next generation of gangsters, increasing the membership and keeping the gang going.
"This level of openness towards membership has a historical precedence. This gang originated in the 1960s because an older gang, Clanton 14, which consisted of Mexicans and Caucasians who were already established in Los Angeles refused to accept the newly arrived Mexicans. These newly arrived, illegal immigrants, feeling ostracized and with language and cultural barriers to assimilation, banded together to form the 18th Street gang. They retain the character of outsiders, which makes them easier to accept outsiders--even from other races."

Tags:immigrants, crimes, character, boundaries

Abstract
This paper focuses on the current conditions in L.A. regarding poverty and violence to that of the 1930s. The writer of this paper reviews and discusses author Upton Sinclair's perception of 1930s L.A. in his novel "Land of Orange Groves and Jails." This paper explores the strong lure of street gangs on L.A.'s youth as well as the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing for the working class citizen. This paper also gives a brief biography of Upton Sinclair's political aspirations.

From the Paper
"The Mayor has endorsed the LA's BEST program, Better Educated Students for Tomorrow. The program is designed to give students ages 5 to 12 a place to hang out during the critical hours after school. The program costs parents nothing and insures that children will not get mixed up in the gang network. In a press release dated Feb. 23, 2006 the Mayor reported that the program has decreased the dropout rate by 20 percent. This is a statistic based on 6000 kids that were in the program for three years and 6000 kids that were not in the program."

Tags:community, political, violence, housing, politics