living in urban warfareii

TRAUMA AND VIOLENT OFFENDING: UNDERSTANDING GANG VIOLENCE

THROUGH THE LENS OF AN EX-GANG MEMBER

Adam Ellis, MA, PhD (Student)Adam.ellis@mail.utoronto.caDr. Julian Gojer MBBS FRCPC JDThe Manasa Clinic

A woman abused by her husband for many years Husband threatens her As he walks away she shoots him in the back of the head

A SHOOTING IN A MALLTWO DEAD MENBOY SHOT IN THE HEADOTHERS WOUNDEDGUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER TWO CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES

I F I T WA S A WOM AN WHO WA S GA NG RAP ED,CA RR IED A GU N FO R PR OTEC T ION AND C OM MITTED THE S AM E OFFENSE…. DO WE SEE I T D IFFER ENTLY?I F I T WERE TWO MA LES O N THE STREET IN AN ALLEY WAY IN SOM E OTHER PART O F TOWN WO U LD O U R PERCEPT IO NS BE D IFF ER ENT?IF THE V IC T I M SHO T TWO O F THE PER PETRATOR S IN REGENT PARK WO U LD WE SEE THE S ITU AT IO N A S STREET WARFA RE OR A R EACT IO N TO TRA U MA?

THE MANY FACES OF TRAUMA

Single episode-extra ordinary event Single episode-ordinary event Multiple episodes-extra ordinary events Multiple episodes- ordinary events Developmental stressful eventsAbuseNeglectRefugees fleeing

Using one word “Trauma” to capture a variety of human events does not do justice to the individual’s experience. How is it possible to compare a motor cycle accident to a rape or a torture experience to the loss of a child.

NATURE OF THE RESPONSE Depression Anxiety Sleep disorders Hypervigilance Dissociative symptoms Somatic symptoms Behavioral problems Aggression

TRAUMA EXPOSURE The DSM-5 articulates a traumatic event as “an event or events that involve actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others” (DSM-V).

The exposure must result from one or more of the following situations where the individual:

-directly experiences the traumatic event; -witnesses the traumatic event in person; -learns that the traumatic event occurred to a close family member or close friend (with the actual or threatened death being either violent or accidental); or

-experiences first-hand repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event (not through media, pictures, television or movies unless work-related

THE EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT Railway spine, Soldier’s Heart, Battle Fatigue PTSD-III to DSM 5 Subthreshold PTSD ICD 11-more restrictive criteria (Maercker 2013) Complex PTSD –disturbances in: Affect Self Interpersonal relationships

DESNOS-Herman Dissociative Identity disorder Borderline personality disorder Somatization disorder

Developmental Trauma Disorder-Van der Kolk

COMMON THREAD-TRAUMA EXPOSURE The bridge between Lavallee who shot her husband in the back of the head as he walked away from her and Mr. Husbands who shot 2 men dead and wounded several people is a hard one to navigate.

Who can be better to talk about trauma and violence than Adam Ellis who has lived the experience and walked that bridge!

“GANG MEMBERS CHOOSE TO JOIN GANGS”.

ENVIRONMENT: URBAN WARFARE VS. GLOBAL CONFLICTSoldiers Street Soldiers

HOW DO WE HUMANIZE THE GANG PHENOMENON? LIFE-COURSE TRAJECTORY OF TRAUMA

MY STORY: FROM GANGS TO ORGANIZED CRIME

TODAY: REVITALIZATION

NOT JUST ONE ‘HOOD’ -- GANG TENTACLES

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

MY EXPERIENCE: 1. CHILDHOOD TRAUMAEXPOSURE TO GANG CULTURE

LIMINAL SPACE -the transitional period or phase of a rite of passage, during which the participant lacks social status or rank, remains anonymous, shows obedience and humility, and follows prescribed forms of conduct, dress, etc.

-a threshold -to exist between two spaces

2. SCHOOL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

EMERGING TURFS

ADOLESCENT TRAUMA-HIGH SCHOOL YEARSROBBERY

HIGH SCHOOL VIOLENCE –SOCIALIZATION AND DESENSITIZATION – COLLECTIVELY OVER 700-1000 FIGHTS PER YEAR

REGENT PARK-THE CRACK GAME

EXPANDING THE GANG TURF: MULTICULTURAL-URBAN WARFARE

SWANSEA MEWS

FIGHTING THE TRAUMA: MUSIC AS AN INTERVENTION AND A CURSE

OTHER TRAUMA

TRAUMA IN YOUNG ADULTHOOD-THE UN OF GANGS: ORGANIZED CRIME YEARS

WHAT SAVED ME?

“SOME MEN ARE FEARED ON THE BLOCK BUT THAT IS ONLY MOMENTARY. THE STREETS LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE REVERED…..MEN WILL KILL AND DIE FOR YOU”. AKA DROOPEY

THANK YOU! Contact:

Adam.ellis@mail.utoronto.ca