Influence Of Gangs On Adolescents - 2333 Words

Influence of Gangs on Adolescents in America Madison M. Prettyman California State University, Fresno Criminology 120- January 1, 201 Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes three different films, Crips and Bloods, A Better Life, and Gran Torino. The films each explore the social settings of three distinct minority groups; the paper notes and describes several similarities among the groups. These include widespread poverty, discrimination from the dominant social order, and the lack of availability of normal social opportunities. The General Theory of Crime is examined and used to explain why these minority adolescents act out the way they do. This analysis is an attempt to find the reasons for why individuals choose to get involved in criminal activity instead of â€Å"living above the influence.† Finally, the paper explores potential methods to provide the support necessary for keeping juveniles away from this criminal involvement. Involvement in gang activity and juvenile delinquency is a widespread concern in the United States. Much of the time, those involved are a part of a racial minority group. This paper explores three distinct minority groups – African Americans, Hispanics, and Hmong – in an attempt to conclude why and how these individuals choose to pursue violent gang activities. Crips and Bloods, A Better Life, and Gran Torino are three films that each do an outstanding job in describing some of the causes of adolescent involvement in criminalShow MoreRelatedWhat Causes Deviance And What Is The Definition Of Deviance859 Words   |  4 PagesIn the field of sociology there are various competing theories that attempt to determine what causes deviance and what is the definition of deviance. In an effort to explain why gang membership exists in today’s society, there is one theory that stands out from the rest: Sutherland’s differential association. Sutherland’s diffe rential association theory explains deviant behavior as something that is â€Å"learned through associations† rather than solely based upon the community that one is fostered inRead MoreYouth Gang Membership And It s Implication Adolescent Development Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesThere are over 700,000 adolescents who are involved in youth gangs. (Thomas). America has a youth gang culture that is present in its society. This paper will focus on youth gang membership and it’s implication to adolescent development. First to be discussed will be the demographics of adolescents involved in gangs. Then the reasons why youth join gangs and how it is related to their natural development. Next, we will turn to contemplate the implication of gang culture and involvement in America’sRead MoreYouth Gangs In Canada886 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Youth gangs in Canada is becoming more and more of issue. Adolescents across Canada resort to joining youth gangs for many different reasons. A youth gang is a group of young adolescents who use intimidation and violence to gain prestige among other gangs and control certain areas of unlawful activities. For all the reasons an adolescent would join a youth gang, police and the Government have come up with programs to prevent youth from joining and to get them to leave the gangs. With programsRead MoreGang Violence : A Serious Problem1561 Words   |  7 PagesGang violence is a serious problem in America today, and it is also prevalent in the other countries in the world. â€Å"According to a national gang survey, the most recent estimate indicates that there were about 760,000 gang members in 24,000 gangs in the United States in 2004† this just supports the statement that it is a huge problem in the United States (Cooper, 2009, p. 1). Unfortunately, the Youth of America and these other countries have been a large demographic of these gangs for many yearsRead MorePolicing The Lives Of Black And Latino Boys1348 Words   |  6 Pagesdecided to shadow and interview black and Latino adolescence males from poverty and lower-class neighborhoods to tell their stories and experiences of criminalization as targeted minority groups. Rios had grown up in the ghetto of Oakland, was a former gang affiliated member, had been in and out of the juvenile systems, and was labeled a delinquent by many of his peers growing up. Unlike many, Rios overcame the criminalization, victimization, brutality, and negativity that society uses to control andRead MoreThe Gang Activity Within Our Community Essay1443 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper discusses the gang activities in Grenville, NC. There are three main topics th at include; 1) the history of gang activity. 2) Gang activity in today’s society. 3) Ways to eradicate gang activity within our community. To start what is the true definition of a gang and what is there purpose? A gang is an organized group of either friends or family with identifiable leadership claiming control over a community or territory. Gangs are driven by money, power, and opportunities to victimizeRead MoreTeen Delinquency And Its Effects On Society963 Words   |  4 PagesMore and more adolescents are committing delinquent crimes. Delinquency can be seen as the direct result of negative affective states. Gangs are a group of youths who collectively engage in delinquent behavior. Peer groups can provide a lot of social and emotional support for anti-social activities. Peer relations, in all cultures have been linked to adolescent behavior choices including substance abuse and delinquency. Currently there are now more than eight hundred thousand gang members in theR ead MoreThe Incarceration Of Minority Youth883 Words   |  4 PagesThe increasing rate of imprisoned minority adolescent youth and young males in the criminal justice system. For this reason there needs to be interventions available to this population to create a change in society. †¢ The changing number of adolescent and youth minority prisoners : The incarceration of minority youth is at a high as well as the cost for the imprisonment of them in their states, many of their offenses are non-violent. There is a need for initiatives to be created to reduce the numbersRead MoreRisk Factors For Adolescent Drug Abuse1462 Words   |  6 Pages Body: Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug Abuse There are an abundance of risk factors that can relate to the contribution of drug abuse in adolescents. The primary risk factors can be divided into two main categories: social and emotional triggers. Social factors play an important role because during the adolescent years it can be an extremely emotional and physically tough time for teens to transition through. Adolescent phases are one of the biggest transitional stages in a person’s life becauseRead MoreLatino Community At Risk Youth Focus Group Of Forsyth County1130 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Unidos† Gang Prevention Welcome, to our Latino community at-risk youth focus group of Forsyth County, in North Carolina. Our mission of the â€Å"Unidos† Gang Prevention and Education Program is to lower gang involvement, violence, with providing education, knowledge, community and family involvement. This program will target Latino students from ages 11-17 that show involvement to be at risk of being a member or have affiliations with a street gang. However, all students are welcome. The program will