Unit 4 Project Cj150

Running head: JUVENILE GANGS

Juvenile Gangs

Isaac Lengerich

Kaplan University

CJ150-04

Professor Abreu

10 Jan. 2012

Abstract

This paper is going to discuss the reasons why juveniles turn towards gangs. It is also going to discuss what we can do to bring juvenile gangs to a halt.

Juvenile Gangs

Juvenile gangs are becoming a widespread problem throughout America. These juvenile gangs are receiving most of their knowledge from older gangs and older gang members. Juvenile gang members are running rampant throughout America. This is becoming a big problem and needs to be stopped. In order to do this, we must find alternative ways to bring juvenile gangs to a halt. We must bring this to a halt in order for these juveniles to prosper as outstanding citizens in our community.

Juveniles turn towards gangs for multiple different reasons. Some of these reasons include companionship, protection, a sense of belonging, fast money, training, relief of frustration, power, and self-esteem (NSSC, 1988). Juveniles join gangs in order to feel that they fit in. This gives them a sense of belonging and a sense of power.

Some reasons that these juvenile gangs exist are because of increased drug trafficking, the ease of access to drugs/guns, poverty, racial divisions, lack of parental supervision, lack of employment opportunities, lack of recreational opportunities, breakdown in family structure, excessive sex and violence in television shows and movies, and the breakdown of the structure of the community and of the church (Harper, 1989, p. 31). With this being said, these juveniles turn towards gangs because of racial problems between different ethnicities, lack of money due to poverty and the lack of employment, not having parents around (older gang members may be a father/mother figure), not being able to play sports or recreational activities, juveniles may see sex and violence from video games and movies as acceptable behavior, and there may not be a strong...