Mafia vs. Gangs
eHowCulture & SocietyCulturesAmerican CultureEffects of GangsEffects of Gangs
By Paul Bright, eHow Contributor X Paul Bright Paul Bright has been writing online since 2006, specializing in topics related to military employment and mental health. He is also a federal employee in northern California. Bright holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of North Carolina-Pembroke and is pursuing a Master of Arts in psychology-marriage and family therapy from Brandman University.
View my portfolio
SharePrint this article Gangs are a source of neighborhood violence. Gangs can have a tremendous effect on society. They have existed for hundreds of years, especially in America. Although gangs are usually created from people who intend to offer safety in numbers, this safety is usually done through acts of crime. This article will explain how gangs and their activities affect society.
Other People Are Reading The Effects of Gang Life in Our Communities Why Do Teens Join Gangs? History
Gangs have been in existence since the dawn of man. It has never been unusual to see small bands of men protect each other through committing crimes that sometimes involve violence. Gangs in the United States have existed since the 1800s. In the Western regions, gangs of people used to rob trains of passenger 's money. They would also steal cattle from unsuspecting cowboys. Other cultural gangs formed on the East Coast as immigrants poured into large, urban cities. The movie "Gangs of New York" was a historically based film that outlined those gangs. The Capone gang and other mobsters began terrorizing neighborhoods in the early 1900s. Today, many American gangs are formed not only in cities but in suburban neighborhoods as well with the common purpose of dealing drugs.
Function
A gang usually functions through high levels of organization and within their specific cultures. The Mafia, for example, was mostly limited to Catholic Italians from Sicily.
By Paul Bright, eHow Contributor X Paul Bright Paul Bright has been writing online since 2006, specializing in topics related to military employment and mental health. He is also a federal employee in northern California. Bright holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of North Carolina-Pembroke and is pursuing a Master of Arts in psychology-marriage and family therapy from Brandman University.
View my portfolio
SharePrint this article Gangs are a source of neighborhood violence. Gangs can have a tremendous effect on society. They have existed for hundreds of years, especially in America. Although gangs are usually created from people who intend to offer safety in numbers, this safety is usually done through acts of crime. This article will explain how gangs and their activities affect society.
Other People Are Reading The Effects of Gang Life in Our Communities Why Do Teens Join Gangs? History
Gangs have been in existence since the dawn of man. It has never been unusual to see small bands of men protect each other through committing crimes that sometimes involve violence. Gangs in the United States have existed since the 1800s. In the Western regions, gangs of people used to rob trains of passenger 's money. They would also steal cattle from unsuspecting cowboys. Other cultural gangs formed on the East Coast as immigrants poured into large, urban cities. The movie "Gangs of New York" was a historically based film that outlined those gangs. The Capone gang and other mobsters began terrorizing neighborhoods in the early 1900s. Today, many American gangs are formed not only in cities but in suburban neighborhoods as well with the common purpose of dealing drugs.
Function
A gang usually functions through high levels of organization and within their specific cultures. The Mafia, for example, was mostly limited to Catholic Italians from Sicily.
Links: View Crimes In Your Area How Safe Is Your Neighborhood? View Crime Rates In Your Area! besthomesecuritycompanys.com/Crime Effects Gangs of all levels and types usually have a negative effect on society. Gangs, gang violence and gang wars typically suck up a city or town 's police resources because of the sheer number of people involved, lack of witness cooperation and types of crimes connected to gangs. Higher-level gangs that are investigated by the FBI sometimes force the agency to utilize very risky and very expensive resources like high-tech surveillance, informants and witness protection programs. Gangs also can bring down the property value of neighborhoods from the violence and vandalism involved with gang life. Big money investors may shy away from places where they feel that their properties and resources will not be used for fear of gang crimes. Gangs can also drive up prices of local groceries and commodities via their intimidating schemes that force businesses to pay them sums of money in exchange for "protection." Prevention/Solution Teenage gang prevention often involves early intervention by special at-risk programs that offer mentorship and activities to do after school. If teens feel that they can find summer jobs and fun activities that will keep them off of the streets, they may choose to participate rather than join a gang that could get them arrested or killed. For older gangs that are more organized or commit more violent crimes, prevention usually involves getting the community to protect itself. Communities need to be willing to inform police of suspicious activities and not create environments where gangs can thrive, such as towns with low wages or little aesthetic pride. If people feel that they have equal opportunities to succeed and educate themselves, gangs are less likely to exist. Warning Gangs can become violent quickly. They can use violence as a technique of intimidation for not just one person but all people in the neighborhood or town. Do not attempt to be a hero and take a gang down single-handed. Organizing neighborhood watches and keeping in contact with police can deter a gang from causing trouble. If more and more gang members lose their numbers to the penitentiary and have fewer people to recruit, they are likely to dissolve.