FREE Youth Gang Violence In America Essay (original) (raw)

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of going home to visit the beautiful city of Austin, Texas. As a child, growing up there was a load fun. We had our share of harmless fun from time to time; mailbox baseball, cow tippin", and lots of small pranks of that nature. These days however, more than the populations has changed. Kids are a lot more wild now than in the past. On one of my weekend nights there, I was victimized. My friends and I had gone out for a crazy night on the town. At around one in the morning, we were ready to leave the club and head home. I told them to wait at the curb and I would run and get the car, which was conveniently parked in the alley at the rear of the club. When I entered the alley, I could see two silhouettes conversing in the corner. By the time I reached my car, they had already made it over to me. At first they seemed very polite and friendly, asking me for a match to light their cigarettes. Being the overly nice guy that I am, I dove into my car to find a match and cater to their needs. When I stood up from being inside my car, they had vanished. Next thing I know, EMT's are patching my head up. They took everything, my watch, my money, and my credit cards. I went down to the police station and, coincidentally, the police had picked up two juveniles matching their description for another crime they had just committed. It turns out the two teens had robbed me as part of their gang initiation. .
In recent years, the United States has witnessed the rapid growth of youth gangs and associated violence. As a nation, we have come to recognize that there are no simple solutions to the youth gang problem. There is a need however, to identify the nature and extent of the gang problem, to prevent at-risk youth from joining gangs, to intervene with gang-involved youth to redirect their lives on a positive course, and to suppress gang-related crime. Statistics state that more than 16,000 gangs are active in this country, with at least half a million members who commit more than 600,000 crimes a year.

1. The Issue of Juvenile Gangs

Gang violence is an issue that grows larger by the day here in America. ... The gang problem in America is one of the largest threats to society. ... It seems that the gang related acts of violence reported on the news daily are getting more brutal now than ever. ... Many youths find this sense of belonging in gangs. ... The Richmond Gang Reduction and Intervention Program, or "GRIP," was created to reduce crime and violence associated with youth street gangs in a select group of cities across the United States. ...

2. Youth Gangs

Youth Gangs as a Social Problem Sometime in the past 20 or 30 years, youth gangs have increasingly become a social problem society has had to deal with. ... The American Academy of Pediatrics compiled statistics on media violence that say, by the age of 18, the average U.S. child has viewed over 16,000 murders on television. ... Aside from the media, home environment is another contributing factor to a child thinking gang violence is acceptable. ... Youth gang members use propaganda to get new members. ... Since it is nearly impossible to throw away every television set in America, or have ...

3. Stopping Community Gang Violence

In fact seems impossible to stop activities in gang violence from happening but there are solutions to minimize gang violence. ... This is how the gangs come in and easily influence the youths to join them. ... An American woman came up to his mom and said "Hey get out of there that's our seats. ... Furthermore, while gang violence is going on our communities it causes people to go into jail and have to deal with violence which gang violence won't stop. ... Maybe trying to tackle these issues can help overcome gang violence....

4. Gang violence

(Sadler 16) These stories fuel the public perception that gang violence is increasing. ... Four-fifths of all gang members were either African-American or Hispanic by the 1970's. ... Certainly racism plays a part pushing young African-American males into gang activities. ... He suggests that madness...is the natural, predictable reaction'' of youths to the larger, hostile adult culture that is anti-youth, particularly anti-African-American youth.' ... Predatory gangs'' are responsible for the violent crimes associated most often with gang violence. ...

5. Gang Violence

Gang Violence Many forms of hate face American citizens in this day and age. ... However one problem you don't hear too much about any more is gang violence. ... Police are faced with more and more youths joining gangs. ... Right here in America we face it in many ways. Gang violence doesn't have to happen. ...

6. Gang Violence

Gang Violence Many forms of hate face American citizens in this day and age. ... However one problem you don't hear too much about any more is gang violence. ... Police are faced with more and more youths joining gangs. ... Right here in America we face it in many ways. Gang violence doesn't have to happen. ...

7. Youth Gangs and the Edgework Theory

Introduction The issue of youth gangs has been a major concern in many societies. Youth gangs exist in almost every country. ... The study confirmed DYGs or youth gangs were more prevalence of delinquency, violence and drug abuse. ... The Edgework Perspective In the study by White R and Mason R (2006), which examined the relationship between youth gangs and violent behaviors, suggested that violence was not only a rational or strategic activity but it could be 'exciting and thrilling' as well. It opined that many young people engaged in fights or violence saw it as a legitimate a...

8. Gangs

When we look at the development of the crime and violence in our streets, we must look at the development of what society calls gangs. ... In addition, African American and Hispanic gangs are much more likely to display their colors than are Asian gangs. ... The African American gangs tend to engage in murder or deviant sexual activities. ... In turn, gang membership affords youth a sense of power and control, and gang activities become an outlet for their anger. ... Indeed, youth gangs have been a major part of the urban cultural landscape here in America since at least the 1830s. ...

9. Youth and Gang Participation

American gang membership began evolving in the early 1800s, originating in large urban cities like Chicago and New York. Along with gang membership comes gang violence, which is rising at a high rate due to many different factors. ... This narcotic drug became more prevalent on the streets with an extremely high demand and a profit for it (Meacham, 2008).Youth gangs were instrumental in the increase in crack cocaine sales and their involvement in drug trafficking made a growth in youth violence. ... Youth join gangs as a source of income. ... Youth also join gangs for protection purposes. ...

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