Yo Gonna Get Tapped G-Dog!

Or

Gang Violence in the Adolescent Population

Definition

• National Alliance of Gang Investigators in 2000 recommended that all state and federal bodies define a gang as:– A group of three or more persons who have a common

identifying sign, symbol or name who individually or collectively engage in criminal activity which creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. This includes juvenile acts that, if committed by an adult, would be considered a crime.

Epidemiology

• US Department of Justice for 1999– More than 26,000 gangs active in the US. Down 9%

from 1998

– Number of gangs in Rural areas decreased 23%

– Number of gangs in Suburban decreased 11%

– Number of gangs in Small Cities decreased 19%

– Number of gangs in Large Cities increased 1%

Epidemiology cont

• US Department of Justice for 1999– More than 840,500 active gang members in US.

Increase 8% from 1998.

– Gang members in Rural areas decreased 29%– Gang members in Suburbia increased 27%– Gang members in Small Cities increased 2%– Gang members in Large Cities increased 4%

Who Are They?

• Ages– 15-17 comprise 26%

– 18-24 comprise 50%

• Ethnicity– 47% Hispanic

– 31% African-American

– 13% Caucasian

– 7% Asian

– 2% Other ( ie Nerds, Hottentots, Canadians)

Which Side of The Tracks?

• Social Class– 50% Underclass– 35% Working Class– 12% Middle Class– 3% Upper Crust

What Do They Do?

• Hold Bake Sales???• Violent Offenses most prevalent include:

– Larceny– Theft– Aggravated Assault– Burglary/Breaking and Entering

• 46% of gang members are involved in drug trafficking

• 40% of all gangs were organized solely for the purpose of distributing drugs

Why Ya Blowin Smack my way Homes?

• Military has seen rise in gang related activity– Ft Bragg, 2002, Gang related killings over drug trade– Ft Bragg, December 1996 Racially motivated Double homicide of

black couple by 3 White Supremacists– Ft Bragg, Summer 1997, 10 Black soldiers beat white soldier into a

coma– Ft Riley, 1996, Two double homicides in less than 1 year, gang

related– Ft Hood, 1997, Female specialist convicted of intimidation of

superiors with death threats, two counts of assault and one count of conspiracy in running gang cell and issuing contracts for double homicide.

– Ft Meade, 2000, Latin Kings members found recruiting on post– Ft Carson, Ft Lewis gang related drug rings exposed

DoD Policy on Gang Membership

Whoops!!!

• Currently, none of the services have regulations governing whether service members can be gang members.

• The Closest Regulation of any Branch is Army Reg 600-20 paragraph 4-12,A:– Military personnel must reject participation in

extremist organizations and activities…– Technically a soldier can be an open member of

a gang.

What Do We Do?!

• Stop, Drop and Roll??

• Recognize the Risk Factors for Gang Involvement

• Identify signs of Gang Activity

Risk Factors for Involvement in Gangs

• Adolescents ( virtually the entire junior enlisted component)

• Drugs• Alcohol• Lack of Family Support• Lower Socio-economic status• Access to Firearms• Poor School Performance• Tattoos• Body Piercings

Signs of Gang Activity

• Aside from the occasional stacatto of automatic weapons fire in your neighborhood, what should you be looking for?– Graffitti: Experts agree that once “tagging” is visible,

gang activity has been present for at least 6 months– Recurring color patterns in clothing styles… not to

include pink– Individuals wearing more gold than can be traded

legally on the stock market

Signs cont

– Individuals who “hand flash” or “sign”. Not to be confused with sign language

– Individuals who drive expensive cars, wear name brand clothing, always have cash on hand, but you know they do not have a job

– Tattoos: Each tat has a meaning

America’s Most Wanted

• Maryland– Crips, Skinheads, Latin Kings, Gangster

Disciples, Vice Lords, Asian Boyz, Aryan Brotherhood, Black Guerilla Family

• Virginia– Crips, Bloods, Latin Kings, Gangster Disciples,

Vice Lords, Five Percenters, 18th Street Gang

Latin Kings

Latin Kings

Gangster DisciplesSplinter Group from Bloods

G-Dogs cont

Vice LordsSplinter Group from Crips

Lords cont

Knowing Is Half The Battle But…

• Unfortunately gang members are not always visible. And gang activity is not always glaringly obvious….so what do you do?

A. Separate waiting room into gang and non-gang member areas.

B. Go undercover yourself to find out the scoop.

C. Smoke a bong, eat a twinkie and think real deep man.

D. Watch X-Files because the truth is out there.

E. Screen you patient population.

FISTS

• Fights– How many fights in past year

• Injuries– Have you been injured in a fight or injured someone else

• Sexual Violence– Have you ever been forced to have sex against your will

• Threats– Have you ever been threatened

• Self-Defense– Have you ever carried a weapon to protect yourself

• Gangs– Are you or do you know anyone who is a gang member

Resources

• Local Law Enforcement

• Military Family Resource Center– (703) 696-9053

• DoD Office of Family Policy– Strategic Youth Action Plan– Military Teens on the Move,

www.ditcaw.dtic.mil/mtom

The Homies Would Like To Thank

• Dr. Anisha Abraham for resources galore

• My wife, Nathalie Coleman for maintaining the “hoodlums” in my absence

• And to G-Money who gave me some insight years ago into the gang culture