JJUVENILE GANGS

JUVENILE GANGSIntro to Law1What is a Gang?A formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consists of three or more persons who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors or symbols and have two or more members who, individually or collectively, engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity. - 874.03 (1)Gangs in the USAn estimated 24,500 gangs exist in the US772, 500 active gang membersMostly males ages 15-17Cities with emerging gang problems report more females and more mixed race/ethnic groups than those with long term gang problems2000 Youth Gang Survey

3Characteristics of Hispanic GangsGenerally modeled after LA gangsLoosely organizedTurf orientedGraffitiColorsHand signs

Characteristics of Florida Gangs

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6Graffiti

Getting In Jumped inEverybody sets the rules: not to hit in the face and to wrestle. The 1st person on the ground that was it. You dont continue fighting.

Sexed InBack in the day, the leader used to do the girls when they tried to get in the gang. Sometimes, lets say you at a skipping party and theres only 2 girls trying to get in, all of them [the boys] will do it. If its like 4 guys, all of them will do it.Why join?

What are the pressures that push youth towards gangs?

What does a gang have to offer our youth?

What important needs are being met through gang membership?11

When does it start?What are the pressures that push youth towards gangs?

Community, School Family, Peer

Individual13Impoverished CommunitiesChronic unemployment or underemploymentDrugs and weapons easily availableGangs, Crime and violence become normalizedInstitutionalized prejudice/racism

14Family StressUnstable/broken home Economic instabilityLow educational attainment & expectationsAlcoholism/drug abuseFamily members in gangParent/sibling criminalityNeglectViolenceVerbal, physical, sexual abuseI never get along with my fatherhe used to beat my mom, you know. And I didn't like that stuff and I used to fight with my dad too. I used to fight him too when I seen my mom fighting with him. When I was real skinny and tiny he used to grab me from my throat and put me down on the floor like nothing...like a piece of trash. - Cristopher 15Impoverished SchoolsUnder-funded, under-staffed, under-resourcedDisorganizedLimited enrichment coursesZero-tolerance policyDevelopmental Theory of Gang Membership Community, Family, Individual, School, Peer DomainsPreschool Aggression, defianceSchool entryAggression, defiance, conduct disorder, negative early school experience, lack of pro-social peer groupAdolescenceLow educational achievement, lack of school bonding, aggression, defiance, violence, delinquency, gang membershipWhat does the gang offer?Escape: Problems at homePower: Nobody touch youRespect: You dont be scared of nobodyProtectionFame

Money: I used to poor, real poor. I used to be wanting to have the money because when you be having the money people be respecting you.Fun: You chill with all your friends, go to parties, you got a rack of girlsGirls 18Escape - the number one reason young people tell me that they join gangs is to get away from problems at home. Often, these kids would rather sleep in the streets than go home.Power - another way of saying the ability to instill fear, not only in school and in the neighborhood, but also in family members. One gang member told me that his stepfather used to beat him and his mom all the time. Until he joined the gang. Power.Respect - goes along with power. Peers, residents, family members have to show respect. Disrespect is a common instigator of violence.Protection - From other gangs in the neighborhood, bullies. Many gangs in immigrant communities form out of protection, often their ethnic group is the minority in their schools and communities.Fame - Ah, how many of us didnt want to be famous when we were young? For many of these young people, there is a deep need for recognition. Crazy or violent behavior quickly builds a reputation.Money - Very important. The majority of gang involved youth come from impoverished communities where there is little economic opportunities for them. Drug selling, theft, robberies yield much more money than flipping burger at the local fast food joint. Fun - Many of these kids have nothing to do. Girls!

What needs are met by gang membership?A sense of belonging and commitmentThe need for unique/special identity collective identity/group membershipindividual identity

Love and acceptanceStructureEsteem and self worthEmpowermentStatusSupportRecognitionSo I said, what the hell, Im in the street. I aint doing shit. I aint worth shit. Let me change my life around...So I started selling that crazy shit [cocaine]. Then I got more into the gangs because then I had money, clothes. I became a member of La Raza. I was the man thennice clothes, nice perfume, Versace and shit. - Chino19Profile of a Gang MemberApathetic/FatalisticLimited educationCriminal pastSubstance useNo work history

Teenage parentWeak family bonds/supportTattooedDialogue/mannerismsStrategies appropriate for developmental stagesWindow of opportunity ages 7-14FFT, MST, Strengthening Families ProgramIntensive case managementAcademic enrichment/tutoringMentoringPro-social peer groups recreation, skill buildingStrategies appropriate for developmental stagesAges 15-18 Patience and Tenacity Street outreach & intensive case management that is long term & consistentMultidisciplinary Intervention TeamOpportunities provision Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!OutreachStreet OutreachCase managementCourtMediationCrisis responseCommunity serviceReferrals

Gang Hotline YGRC Schools Community partners Drug Court Parents Probation Police

InterventionOutreach workersIntervention SpecialistIntervention TeamGUESSSub Abuse CounselingOn the Job TrainingCase mgmntIn home counselingHousing assistanceTattoo removalReferrals to needed services24We have an Intervention Specialist and two street outreach workers who work with our partners on an Intervention Team. This team recruits youths and families into the program and determines the most appropriate services for them. Referrals can come from any source as long as the youth is from North Miami Beach.

Multidisciplinary Intervention Team

PanZOu Outreach Worker & Intervention SpecialistJuvenile Probation OfficersTrust Counselor - NMB Senior HighAsst. Principal - JFK MiddleNMB Police Dept - Gang UnitDept. Children & FamiliesGUESS Program Case ManagersDade School PoliceStrategies appropriate for developmental stagesAges 19-24Re-entryPrior to release: Assessment, life skills training, education/vocationEducation/VocationJob Placement Case managementPanZOu Project Online ResourcesNational Youth Gang Centerhttp://www.iir.com/nygc/National Gang Crime Resource Centerhttp://www.ngcrc.com/National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associationhttp://www.nagia.org/Florida Gang Investigator Associationhttp://www.fgia.com/home.htmGangs Or Ushttp://www.gangsorus.com/The Coroner's Reporthttp://www.gangwar.com/The PanZOU Project

1541 NE 167th StreetNorth Miami Beach, FL 33162

Phone: 305-956-2523Fax: 305-9556-2529

laura.kallus@nmbpd.org

Turf oriented -Adopt generic names such as Players, Posse, Crew, Mafia, Gang, and Bad Boys and attach their particular street or avenue name to it. Loosely organized GraffitiColorsHand signs

Turf Oriented
Vatos Locos on the subway entrance

Mara Salvatrucha on an elementary school wall

Rivalries
Historic rivals, La Raza and Brown Union

Many youth are introduced to the gang culture at a very early age

Membership and loyalty to the neighborhood gang becomes a matter of family honor & tradition