Gangs In Our Society
Gangs In Our Society
By Emmanuel Moorer
Gangs are becoming prevalent in today’s society and within our schools. More and more young people are turning to gangs in an attempt to escape their everyday lives and the future, which they perceive as dismal and bleak. They are initially attracted to the prestige and cash flow, which is glamorized by the street gang. Many gangs are actively involved in criminal misbehavior, such as drug and gun trafficking, burglaries and homicides. But, street gangs are not just a criminal justice issue, but a social problem, which is triggered by poverty, peer pressure, boredom, despair and lacking a sense of belonging.
A street gang can be defined as “an organized social system that is both quasi-private (not fully open to the public) and quasi-secretive (much of the information concerning its business remains confined with the group) and one whose size and goals have necessitated that social interaction be governed by a leadership structure that has defined roles; where the authority associated with these roles has been legitimized to the extent that social codes are operational to regulate the behavior of both the leadership and the rank and file. That plans and provides not only for the social and economic services of its members, but also for its own preservation as an organization; that pursues such goals nevertheless of whether the action is legal or not; and that lacks a government. This definition involves the overall structure of the gang system. It also shows how membership into a gang can be attractive, as there is structure and a sense of belonging within the system.
The presence of gangs may be seen or felt everywhere, from large urban cities to smaller rural communities. “Gang members do not represent an invisible empire. They thrive on recognition and are constantly seeking ways to make their presence known or felt. “According to statistics from the National Youth Gang Center,
By Emmanuel Moorer
Gangs are becoming prevalent in today’s society and within our schools. More and more young people are turning to gangs in an attempt to escape their everyday lives and the future, which they perceive as dismal and bleak. They are initially attracted to the prestige and cash flow, which is glamorized by the street gang. Many gangs are actively involved in criminal misbehavior, such as drug and gun trafficking, burglaries and homicides. But, street gangs are not just a criminal justice issue, but a social problem, which is triggered by poverty, peer pressure, boredom, despair and lacking a sense of belonging.
A street gang can be defined as “an organized social system that is both quasi-private (not fully open to the public) and quasi-secretive (much of the information concerning its business remains confined with the group) and one whose size and goals have necessitated that social interaction be governed by a leadership structure that has defined roles; where the authority associated with these roles has been legitimized to the extent that social codes are operational to regulate the behavior of both the leadership and the rank and file. That plans and provides not only for the social and economic services of its members, but also for its own preservation as an organization; that pursues such goals nevertheless of whether the action is legal or not; and that lacks a government. This definition involves the overall structure of the gang system. It also shows how membership into a gang can be attractive, as there is structure and a sense of belonging within the system.
The presence of gangs may be seen or felt everywhere, from large urban cities to smaller rural communities. “Gang members do not represent an invisible empire. They thrive on recognition and are constantly seeking ways to make their presence known or felt. “According to statistics from the National Youth Gang Center,