What are some of the key reasons young join gangs? After the fact, did it appear that the gangs provided youth with what they were wanting? How does the concept of loyalty shift from their time on the street to the time of and after conviction and/or incarceration?

Assignment Question

Answer the following questions: ONLY use both videos as sources, NO OUTSIDE SOURCES! What are some of the key reasons young join gangs? After the fact, did it appear that the gangs provided youth with what they were wanting? How does the concept of loyalty shift from their time on the street to the time of and after conviction and/or incarceration? https://nationalgangcenter.ojp.gov/video

Assignment Answer

Introduction to Pushes and Pulls

Understanding the complex dynamics behind youth gang involvement is crucial for effective prevention and intervention strategies (National Gang Center, 2014). In this exploration, insights from researchers, practitioners, and former gang members provide a comprehensive overview of the factors influencing a youth’s decision to join a gang.

Gaining a nuanced understanding of the behaviors and circumstances contributing to gang involvement is essential for designing targeted interventions. The concept of “pushes” and “pulls” highlights the negative conditions that propel youth toward gangs and the perceived opportunities that attract them (National Gang Center, 2014). Recognizing these factors is vital for developing strategies that address the root causes of gang joining.

Understanding Pushes and Pulls

Risk factors, defined as “the characteristics, variables, or hazards that, if present for a given individual, make it more likely that this individual will join a gang,” play a pivotal role in the decision-making process (National Gang Center, 2014). Analogous to risk factors for health issues, the accumulation of risk factors in multiple domains significantly increases the likelihood of gang involvement (National Gang Center, 2014).

To comprehend the multifaceted nature of gang joining, it is crucial to explore risk factors across individual, family, school, peer, and community domains (National Gang Center, 2014). Research suggests that youth experiencing risk factors in all these domains are forty times more likely to join a gang compared to those facing risks in only one domain (National Gang Center, 2014).

Individual Risk Factors

Within the individual domain, various risk factors contribute to a youth’s vulnerability to gang involvement. Problem behavior in the early years, characterized by impulsivity, aggressiveness, and reactivity, serves as a strong predictor of gang membership (National Gang Center, 2014). Understanding these early signs is essential for early intervention.

Former gang members, including Raúl, Karlo, and Dustin, provide insights into their early problem behaviors. They describe justifying or making excuses for actions such as stealing, cheating, and rule-breaking, especially when these actions benefited them (National Gang Center, 2014). These beliefs are often validated and reinforced when youth join a gang, perpetuating a cycle of negative behavior.

Negative life events, such as school suspension, serious injury, or disruption in the family structure, also contribute to individual risk factors (National Gang Center, 2014). Victimization, both at home and in the community, further diminishes a young person’s sense of safety and security, making them more vulnerable to gang joining (National Gang Center, 2014).

Family Risk Factors

Negative life events, as discussed in the individual domain, can extend into the family domain, disrupting the life course of a young person. Changes in caregivers, loss of contact with parents, or disruptions in family structure can create an environment conducive to gang involvement (National Gang Center, 2014).

Inconsistent and disengaged parenting adds another layer of risk for youth. Lack of clear rules, emotional support, and supervision contribute to conditions that make a youth more susceptible to negative behaviors, particularly when spending unsupervised time with delinquent peers (National Gang Center, 2014). The absence of consistent support and discipline can leave children feeling vulnerable and more likely to join a gang.

School Risk Factors

Risk factors in the school domain further compound a youth’s vulnerability to gang involvement. Poor school performance, low academic aspirations, and a negative school environment contribute to a decreased bond with the school (National Gang Center, 2014). Special-needs students or those labeled as slow learners are particularly vulnerable to these risk factors (National Gang Center, 2014).

Former gang members, including Iris, Karlo, and Dustin, share their experiences of detachment from school. Lack of interest, engagement, and emotional connection to school and teachers increase the risk of gang involvement (National Gang Center, 2014). School suspension or expulsion, while addressing negative behavior, can have long-term consequences on a young person’s academic performance and bond with the school.

Peer Risk Factors

During adolescence, a youth’s peer group becomes a powerful influence on their behavior and attitudes. One of the strongest risk factors for gang membership is association with friends engaged in delinquency or possessing antisocial beliefs (National Gang Center, 2014). Peer influence normalizes antisocial behaviors and attitudes, detaching youth from positive mainstream peers and activities (National Gang Center, 2014).

Dustin, Raúl, and Iris provide insights into their peer influences during their adolescent years. The association with delinquent peers is a significant factor in the decision to join a gang, as it provides a sense of belonging and acceptance within a group that shares similar attitudes and behaviors (National Gang Center, 2014).

Community Risk Factors

Community risk factors, including poverty and neighborhood disorganization, contribute to the overall risk of gang involvement. While poverty itself does not cause individuals to join gangs, high levels of poverty in the community strain institutions that provide support and protection for young people (National Gang Center, 2014). Neighborhood disorganization, characterized by poor housing, lack of quality schools, and inadequate social services, further increases the risk (National Gang Center, 2014).

Former gang members, including Iris, Marion, and Karlo, describe the challenging conditions in the neighborhoods where they grew up. Higher crime rates, conflicts between residents, and racial and economic segregation are consequences of neighborhood disorganization, fostering an environment where gang involvement becomes more likely (National Gang Center, 2014).

How Pushes and Pulls Affect the Decision to Join a Gang

In the previous sections, the discussion centered on risk factors in individual, family, school, peer, and community domains. In this section, we delve into how these pushes and pulls combine to influence the decision to join a gang (National Gang Center, 2014).

Contrary to common belief, youth are not forced into joining gangs; rather, it is the culmination of risk factors across various domains that makes them more vulnerable to such associations (National Gang Center, 2014). The narratives of former gang members reveal that youth who struggle to find safety and success in their homes, schools, neighborhoods, and peer groups may be simultaneously pushed and pulled toward gangs (National Gang Center, 2014).