Seeking Alternative Means of Identity Because of \"Criminal\" Profiling

Gang Involvement and Marginalization

Controversial statement: Individuals who gravitate towards gang involvement are often marginalized from acquiring the status in general in society via legitimate means, and their only option is to acquire status through illegitimate means

The issue of crime remains one of the most sensitive yet urgent issues that need to be addressed in the U.S. Many people have lost their lives or property in the hands of violent crime. The recording of crime has often been carried out by profiling the racial and economic background of suspected and convicted criminals. According to Hannon and DeFina, (2005) high criminal incidents are normally recorded among disproportionate ethnic groups such as Hispanics and African-Americans. They further add that high crime rates are common in areas with high levels of socio-economic disadvantage. This essay is a reaction to the controversial statement that "individuals involved in gangs are marginalized hence forcing them to acquire a status via illegitimate means."

When read this statement, I was astonished that people still justify committing evil with evil. How can two wrongs make it right? While different researchers have linked gang involvement with social marginalization, I still believe that the marginalized people can overcome their woes to lead legitimate lives. Blacks are significantly more compared to the white offenders (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2004). Common explanations to these high levels of crime have been attributed to poverty and unemployment, residential segregation, education inequality and the legacy of discrimination and racism (Ulmer et al., 2012).