Gang control methods and juvenile probation in criminal justice

Criminal Justice

Juvenile justice

Gang Control Methods

Descriptions

Law Enforcement Efforts

The traditional police personnel from the youth unit control the gang.

Police officers from youth or detective unit are charged with controlling activities of the gang.

Setting up of gang unit within the police to exclusively control gang activity.

The Chicago Police Department set up gang crime section to process information on gangs and gang leaders.

The Los Angeles Police Department engages in crime breaking activities that involve arresting, prosecution, conviction and incarceration of gang leaders.

Community Control Efforts

The detached street worker program works with gangs in their own turf. Those facilitating these programs participate in gang activities to get to know their members.

Spergel's Community Gang Control Program is one such body that engages in community mobilization to control gang activities.

Adapted from Siegel & Welsh, 2005

PART 2

Appendix E

Theory

Description

Anthropological

Gangs always appeal to adolescents' primitive tribal instincts. According to this theory members of a gang will always use signs and symbols.

Socio-cultural

This theory posits that gangs will always appeal to poor kids who live in disorganized neighborhood. You can always recognize such gangs based on their locations and membership.

Psychological

Psychological theory holds that gangs provide "refuge" to the youth who are politically disturbed. Such youths will always engage in gang violence and drug/substance abuse.

PART 3

The concept of probation is coined from the Latin probatio which means testing. It basically means testing of one's behavior or abilities. In the legal context, the individual under probation is compelled to follow conditions set out by the court of law. Individuals involved in domestic violence, drug traffickers, sexual offenders, and criminal gang members who have not attained majority age can be put under probation (Kokemuller, 2013). An individual is put on probation on condition that he cannot be a threat to the safety of the general public or if he cannot come into contact with a former partner in crime.

Juvenile probation officers/probation officers are involved in the supervision of the offenders. They take active interest in assigned offenders by meeting them and their family members on regular basis. They keep them up-to-date with the events and activities in their lives. They are also actively involved in rehabilitation of the offenders. This they do to help offenders establish and maintain a law-abiding life (Kokemuller, 2013). They collaborate with social services departments to identify relevant counseling, educational, employment and housing opportunities. Offenders with electronic monitoring devices are actively monitored by probation officers. The officers also research offenders' background and evaluate their behavior during probation and write report that assists the court in arriving at an appropriate punishment. Information provided by probation officers is integral at parole board and court hearings.

PART 4

Law enforcement efforts endeavor to reduce the supply of drugs as well as deterring would-be drug users. The source control strategy deters sale of drugs through apprehension of large volume drug dealers. It punishes known dealers and users. These efforts have not succeeded in some areas where they have resulted in a shift in production to another area. Border control has also been intensified to interdict drug supplies. Some strategies have also targeted dealers where law enforcement agencies focus on drug trafficking (Siegel & Welsh, 2005).

Education programs like D.A.R.E. have also been rolled out that target teenage substance abusers. These programs teach students techniques to resist peer pressure. The D.A.R.E program failed to prevent student drug use. It also failed to change the students' attitude towards drugs (Siegel & Welsh, 2005).

Community strategies that targeted high-risk youths were also instituted. Such programs offered counseling, medical care and encouraged school achievement.