Root causes of gang membership and violence in American communities

¶ … presence of gangs in American communities remains a public safety issue and a public health issue. Gangs are linked to phenomena like violent crime and drug abuse. To reduce gang violence, it is necessary to recognize root causes of the presence of gangs, to understand the structure of gangs, and also to recognize the risk factors associated with gang membership.

Research related to gangs focuses on various sociological, psychological, and criminological variables. A review of literature reveals various structural phenomena associated with the presence of gangs, including high rates of unemployment and poverty. Some researchers focus more on the organizational structure and culture of gangs to illuminate the roles gangs serve in their communities. Research into the psychology of gang membership can also show why some people are more at risk than others for joining gangs.

Understanding the psychology of gang membership and gang life might help teach community leaders, parents, and educators how to increase resilience even in the midst of ongoing structural problems. Structural problems like poverty can only be addressed over the long run, with comprehensive community intervention programs and public policies. Law enforcement must also become a part of the ongoing discourse related to how to address the problem of gangs. Responses to gangs should reflect a deeper understanding of the causal variables, as well as evidence-based practices. Armed with knowledge, law enforcement and policy makers can work together to improve community safety by minimizing the roles gangs play in street life.

Conclusion

Research shows that gang proliferation occurs under specific circumstances. Therefore, understanding the circumstances under which gangs arise may be necessary to curb gang violence. Risk factors range from substance abuse and mental health issues, to community or macro-level sociological factors, like poverty and unemployment. Research shows that law enforcement should take a more proactive role by focusing on preventative factors. This entails recognizing at-risk youth and diverting them from youth gang membership, presenting youth with alternatives to gang membership, and working with community organizations to help identity at-risk youth and address their needs. A preventative approach will focus on building community, family, and individual resilience and meaningful coping mechanisms to deal with structural issues and mental health problems. A preventative and proactive approach on the part of law enforcement would be preferable to a reactive role. It is important for law enforcement to partner with other public agencies to help prevent the rise of youth gang membership.

Understanding gang organization may help law enforcement dismantle gangs. Gangs usually have a relatively loose organizational hierarchy and weak leadership (Decker, 1996). Gangs also proliferate via a process of contagion, referring to both to the spread of violent behaviors within one group as well as the spread of violence and gang membership increase across and between different neighborhoods (Decker, 1996).

Research confirms the belief that gang violence is central to gang life, and is even part of the initiation process, as new members pledge their allegiance through acts of violence against rival gangs. Violence is usually framed in terms of retribution, which explains why violence between gangs is ongoing and can last for years. Gangs rarely take responsibility for initiating violence themselves, because part of the gang identity is affirming the social hierarchies in the community. Furthermore, gangs view violence as the only means to solve the problem and do not view alternatives to violence as being viable. Community leaders and law enforcement can and should be more proactive by presenting alternatives to violence and diverting young people from gangs. Some focus should be placed on gun prevention, too. Most guns used in gang violence are illegally acquired. Therefore, more stringent laws should be enacted for people selling stolen guns. Moreover, it has been suggested that owners who have guns legally should be held more accountable for the safe keeping of their firearms (Hutson, et al., 1994).