After receiving such pressure, a huge scandal broke within the ranks of the LAPD based on charges of corruption and misconduct. Although the LAPD still maintains a heavy presence within these streets, they are not as vehement as seen in the case of the HAMMER era. Many of those affected by L.A. street life are actually not gang members themselves. The aftermath of gang violence has proven to be too much for many Los Angeles residents, including former gang members, to handle. Many former members are left questioning the idea that the gang life is truly a family atmosphere. Former gang members all over the United States have begun to take action as to prevent future generations from making the same mistakes, (Randle, 2003). Many of these former criminals also believe that being open with children about gang violence will help open up dialogue about the negative aspects of gang life, (Randle, 2003). Aqeela Sherrills, a former Los Angeles Crip member, today runs the Community Self-Determination Institute (CSDI), which is an organization dead set on the prevention of other youths entering into gang lifestyle, (Hukill, 2005). After loosing a young personal friend, Sherrills convinced members of his neighborhood to avoid retaliating and instead turn their energy into the organization as a way to prevent any further deaths related to gang violence.

Today, there are several community based, as well as privately funded programs which aim to prevent teens from signing over their lives to street gangs such as the Crips. However, no matter how hard the city of Los Angeles tries to prevent and rid itself of further gang activity, the perils of inner city life will always force...

The problem stems out of deep economic and racial roots, and is not going to be easy to eradicate within the deeply gang entrenched streets of L.A.
References

Alonso, a. (2008). A brief history of the Los Angeles-based Crips. Retrieved April 2, 2008, from Street Gangs: http://www.streetgangs.com/crips/

Crips. (1995). What we celieve in. Nationwide Rip Ridaz. Quality Records.

Davis, Mike. (1992). City of Quartz. Vintage Books.

Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence (2006). Gangs. Find Articles Retrieved April 2, 2008, at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0002/ai_2602000260

Hukill, Traci. (2005). An act of forgiveness. Conscious Enlightenment Publishing.

Retrieved April 8, 2008 at http://cemagazines.com/portal/2005/05/forgiveness.html

Gang Out. A better way out. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from: http://www.gangout.com/about-gangs-gang-structure.htm

Gangs Family and the Gang as Family." Marriage and family encyclopedia. 4 Apr. 2008. http://family.jrank.org/pages/674/Gangs-Family-Gangs-Gang-Family.html

Rawls, James J. (2003). California: An Interpretive History. McGraw-Hill.

Roberts, J. "From menace to mentor - former gang member works to prevent children from joining gangs" Findarticles.com. Retrieved April 5, 2008, at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JAS/is_6_32/ai_104081465

Rogers, C. Children in gangs (2001). Find Articles. Retrieved April 3, 2008, from: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1991_Oct/ai_11514567