Scott Larson www.StraightAhead.org

National Gang Statistics and Trends

Gangs Have Been Documented in Every State

– National Drug Intelligence Center Report

•  Over 33,000 Individual Gang Sets Identified •  Folk and People Nations in 35 States •  Crips and Bloods in 42 States •  White Gangs in 44 States •  Latino/Hispanic Gangs in 41 States •  Asian Gangs in 41 States

1.8 MILLION STRONG IN 2015

What is a Gang?

A gang is a group of people who want to be seen…

Gang membership - illegal???

Are these kids in a gang?

Definition Criminal Street Gang is:

• Group of three or more persons who have:

Signs, Colors, or Symbols

fighting, vandalism, murder, and drug sales

Why do kids join gangs?

Protection

Money & Drugs

Control of the Environment

Racial Similarities

Cultural Similarities

Acceptance by Peers

Loyalty and Reward

Recruitment

Intimidation

Control of Turf

Common Enemies

** FINALLY A SENSE OF BELONGING**

“At-Risk” Adolescents

Teens with

problems at home

and school.

Teens living in the inner city and/

or in poverty…

Teens with a low

self-esteem…

Teens who are bored with

nothing to do.

Teens who date

gang members.

The most powerful protective factors are education-related and included commitment

to school, attachment to teachers, and parents’ expectations for school.

Stages of Gang Development

New formed. Occasional

misdemeanor crimes – graffiti

More of a social club.

Admire established

gangs.

Emulate dress. Harmless to locals.

Few members have previous involvement with a gang.

No major weapons or drugs sales.

Minor use of drugs/alcohol.

It is important to realize that unless the progressive growth is stopped, most gangs, over a period of time, will evolve into advance hard core gangs.

Primary Stage

Stages of Gang Development

Been established

over 6 months.

Graffiti beginning to appear more

often.

Some graffiti crossouts on

opposing gangs.

Small confrontations

with other gangs.

Beginning to mark turf and recruit new members.

It is important to realize that unless the progressive growth is stopped, most gangs, over a period of time, will evolve into advance hard core gangs.

Second Stage

Stages of Gang Development

Majority of members have participated in gang related serious crimes; drive-bys,

prostitution, murders, rapes, etc. Graffiti is common in the area.

Most members exhibit dress, tattoos, and others

signs of hard core involvement.

Majority have arrest records and/or are school dropouts.

Members relate exclusively with each other. Possess and use firearms.

Membership in gang overrides all other activities and commitments. Deal in

organized crime.

It is important to realize that unless the progressive growth is stopped, most gangs, over a period of time, will evolve into advance hard core gangs.

Advance Stage

Types of Gangs

•  Delinquent social gangs

• Traditional gangs • Business/profit gangs • White hate gangs • Copy-cat gangs

PEOPLE

Alliances •  Think of this as the American and National leagues of gangs •  Currently all documented gangs aligned under these two People Nation Folk Nation Latin Kings Black Gangster Disciples Vicelords Black Disciples Spanish Lords Gangster Disciples El Rukns Imperial Gangsters Bishops La Raza Gaylords Spanish Cobras Latin Counts Latin Eagles Bloods Latin Disciples

Crips

•  Gangs (30,000+) membership in US documented at over 1 million +

BLOODS Black Liberation Organization of

Defense

Gangster Disciples Growth and Development

Organization

Type of Gang Members

•  Leaders: (General, Princes, Chiefs)

•  Hardcore: (Bangers) •  Marginal or Fringe Members: (Not

Wannabe’s!) •  Claimers, Associates or “Wannabe’s” •  Potential or “Could-be’s.”

GRAFFITI

Gang advertisement! Newspaper for the

street!

GRAFFITI

Initiation Rites

Shoot someone in uniform.

Beat In / Jump in beatings are very severe.

Commit a crime.

Spray paint over enemy graffiti.

Grow up in the gangs

• Girls are initiated in a variety ways:Raped in or sexed in - roll the dice.

Beat up their mother!

Drive-by

Prevention Presentations to:

School Administration Students

PTAs Police

Civic Organizations

SuppressionEnforcement

Gang Unit School Security

Informants Community Members

Property Owners Parents

Intervention Multi-Agency:

Police School Security

School Administration School Security

School Staff Mental Health Assn.

State’s Attorney’s Office Probation

Community Resources

Responding to a Gang Problem

WORCESTERGANGTERRITORIES

Cause vs. Effect Cause

Empowerment

Responsibility

Active/Engaging

Take Charge

Anticipate

Ownership

Commitment

Change Agent

Effect Victim

Irresponsible

Passive

Not in Charge

React

Blame

Position

Status Quo/Entitlement

1. - Like politics, is all local 2. - Thrive when they have a common

enemy. 3. - Meet legitimate and healthy

needs, in illegitimate and unhealthy ways.

4. - Are leaders in their communities.

Gangs…

THE CIRCLE OF COURAGE

GENEROSITY

BELONGING

MASTERY

INDEPENDENCE

Culture Type

Guilt/Innocence

Fear/Power

Honor/Shame

Location West (North Amer, Europe

South (Sub-Sahara Africa, Caribbean, Tribal

East (Asia, Middle East, No Africa

Principle Metaphor

Courtroom (legal)

Combat (military)

Community (relational)

Seeking to overcome

Wickedness Weakness Worthlessness

Reconcile to…

Self (soul, conscience)

Creation (nature, spirits)

People (family, community

Population 1.08 billion 1.42 billion 4.37 billion

Social Structure

Individualistic Animistic Collectivistic

LMRModelLinear-Active Multi-Active Reactive

Talkshalfthetime

Doesonethingatatime

Plansaheadstepbystep

Politebutdirect

Partlyconcealsfeelings

Confrontswithlogic

Dislikeslosingface

Rarelyinterrupts

Job-oriented

Usesmainlyfacts

Truthbeforediplomacy

Sometimesimpatient

Limitedbodylanguage

Respectsofficialdom

Separatesthesocialandprofessional

Talksmostofthetime

Doesseveralthingsatonce

Plansgrandoutlineonly

Emotional

Displaysfeelings

Confrontsemotionally

Hasgoodexcuses

Ofteninterrupts

People-oriented

Feelingsbeforefacts

Flexibletruth

Impatient

Unlimitedbodylanguage

Seekoutkeyperson

Interweavesthesocialandprofessional

Listensmostofthetime

Reactstopartner’saction

Looksatgeneralprinciples

Polite,indirect

Conceals

Neverconfronts

Mustnotloseface

Doesn’tInterrupt

Verypeople-oriented

Statementsarepromises

Diplomacyovertruth

Patient

Subtlebodylanguage

Usesconnections

Connectsthesocialandprofessional

Dr. Scott Larson Scott@straightahead.org