Gangs And Community Corrections

Gangs and Community Corrections
Cami Close
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Introduction
The most effective ways of addressing gang-related problems include the involvement of several agencies. However, there are inherent barriers that need to be overcome in order for the collaborative approaches to have a positive effect. These barriers are defining gang problems and discerning the difference between ends and means. The diversity of gangs and their activities makes it difficult for society to define gang problems (Spergel, 1991). This inability arises from the lack of a consensus on what the root problems are. They are mostly focused on specific gang activities, i.e., drug dealing, prostitution, forcing “protection” on
An analysis of arrest records illustrates that offenders differ substantially, and the worst ten percent of these offenders usually commit fifty-five percent of all crimes (Blumstein et al., 1986). Most members of a gang are peripherally involved in crime, but a small number account for most of the harm that is done by the entire gang. More than sixty percent of offenses committed happen at specific dangerous locations, and the crime rates are higher in areas that more potential gang members live in or visit (Blumstein et al., 1986). Economically depressed adolescent males join gangs to commit crimes for financial gain due to their own financial situations. They also tend to commit these crimes in or near their own neighborhoods. These poor youth have fewer sources of transportation, which limits their scope of the crime. Neighborhoods that have open-air markets that deal with drugs attract potential gang members located nearby the area. However, neighborhoods with potential offenders can easily have low crime rates if the buyers don’t feel safe enough to enter such areas. The goal of preventing gang problems is meant to reduce the rate of the crime in the area. It is important to identify the problems and look for appropriate actions to reduce the number of offenders as well as potential victims. It is unnecessary to address entire social problems
The public, i.e. the media together with government agencies, are fixated on gang problems that are an undefined issue. According to Psychologist Weick (1984), people should focus on small wins in order to devise a way of approaching gang problems. In addition, focusing on small wins makes gang problems to be manageable and the response to the problems to have successful results. People tend to examine social problems on a massive scale, for example, eliminating crime, unemployment, and mental illnesses. Social problems are presented on a massive scale in order to mobilize a greater action. People faced with problems of such a magnitude tend to be frustrated and anxious, which limits the quality of the responses they give. Currently, gang problems are being solved using a more constructive approach that involves taking larger problems and breaking them into smaller portions. The breaking down of gang problems makes them manageable because the locals can address problems such as graffiti issues at a specific area rather than nationwide. A small win is concrete and a complete outcome of moderate importance (Weick, 1984). Although some individuals view small wins as unimportant, successive meaningful wins lead to positive results that attract support from other agencies and reduce resistance to gang problem efforts. Small wins are used to assist people to learn about a