Why Juvenile Choose a Gang Lifestyle - 1774 Words

Gangs have been in existence since the beginning of the Roman Empire. There were speeches made by Roman orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero, which references groups of men who constantly fought and disrupted Roman politics (Curry, 2013). The history of street gangs in the United States begins with their emergence on the East Coast around 1783, as the American Revolution ended. Though many believe the best available evidence suggests that the more serious street gangs likely did not emerge until the early part of the nineteenth century (Sante, 1991). Although our country has had their share of feared gangs like in the 1980’s with the turf war between the Bloods and Crips, back in the 17th and 18th century the Mohocks of Georgian, England†¦show more content†¦When most juveniles join gangs most outsiders perceive this to be because these youths are joining to get involved in delinquent activities. Sven Morch and Helle Andersen’s research on â€Å"Becoming a gang member: Youth Life and Gang youth†, state that gangs may be seen as social networks that give space and support for the person, but unfortunately are also contexts for common activities that are often directed against the outside world. (Morch, 2012) Although many people may perceive this as being negative, most who join find the experience as a positive event. One author found out through interviews with gang members that they joined for peer group attraction, an escape from abusive or non-existent families, the possibility of economic gain, and the sense of being marginalized ethically and/or economically from the larger society. (Beare, 2013) What makes the bond so strong with the gang is their culture is imparted from one generation to the next through a process called socialization. The act of joining a gang has always been surrounded by secrecy and ritualistic initiations. One of the first things that occur for a newbie is that they go through an initiation process to join a gang. The culture of the gang is often a culture of violence. It is a culture of physical assaults, guns, knives, bats, and anything that one can use to protect him- or herself or gain advantage over another person or situation.Show MoreRelatedJuvenile Delinquents Vs. Gran Torino, And A Better Life One1467 Words   |  6 Pages Juvenile delinquents have been around for a long time, however it has not been until recently that society has cast light on this very serious issue. Nonetheless, there is still much that is unknown about juvenile delinquents which is why it is so easy for bystanders to label them as gangsters and criminals and forget about them. In reality, there are multiple factors that come in to play that when determining how juvenile delinquents got to the point where they are now. After watching the filmsRead MorePoverty and a Lack of Education are Fueling Juvenile Crime A 6 page essay arguing that juvenile crime is directly related to poverty and poor education.1698 Words   |  7 PagesPoverty and a Lack of Education are Fueling Juvenile Crime In the early 1960s, the epidemic of juvenile crime began to take shape. The problem of juvenile crime is becoming an increasingly pressing matter in America. Anyone who watches the news on television or reads the newspapers is well aware of the urgency and intensity of Americas juvenile crime problem. Effectively establishing the causes of juvenile crime may help to deter it in the future. A proper solution cannot be executed until theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Boyz N The Hood 1643 Words   |  7 Pageswas the case some of the kids prospered more than the others and were able to not get involved in gangs, drugs, or violence despite being in a poor environment where they were forced to live. In addition, some was able to continue their education and eventually get out of the environment, but some could not make it out and died in the poor environment. This movie is a great illustration of juvenile delinquency because it shows how living in a broken home, in a poor environment s hapes young boys.Read MoreJuvenile Delinquency And Juvenile Crime Essay2267 Words   |  10 PagesJuvenile delinquency, as well as juvenile gangs are interesting and popular topic in the world of criminal justice. What criminological theories tie in with the problems of juvenile delinquency, juvenile gangs, and the reasons why juveniles do what they do? This paper explains the theories that tie in with the why, and how juveniles end up the way they do. Using the different theories explained in this paper you could hypothesize an explanation as to why the juvenile committed a crime or joinedRead More The prison situation in the United States is a growing problem932 Words   |  4 Pages Why do we choose to break the law? It’s socially accepted, most people break the law in a minor way, perhaps by speeding or J-walking. Unfortunately some people go to far and end up in prison. At that point society is divided, where is the line that separates us? What affects the outcome of what side of that line you are standing on? Education? Environment? Genetics? What would cause one subject to end up in prison while the other raises a family? Some researchers have concluded that it is in yourRead MoreYouth Crime Essay3259 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿ Youth Gang Involvement MET CJ/631—Youth Crime Problems Boston University Dr. Frank Carney April 20, 2013 Abstract Within the United States, youth involvement in gangs has become a serious problem for the future safety and security of the United States. The following thesis explores the growing problem of youth involvement in gangs and attempts to understand the growing trend by exploring historical facts and figures, policies and programs. Within the lastRead MoreThe Reckless Behavior of Teenagers2575 Words   |  11 Pagesbut majority of teenagers are defined that way by society. In the United States, juveniles were involved in at least 680 murders, in the year 2011 alone (Statistical Briefing Book). Nationwide 2,600 inmates serve the sentence of life-without-parole for crimes they committed as juveniles. In the state of Pennsylvania alone, 450 inmates serve this sentence, which also appears to be the most in any U.S. state (Juvenile Law Center) Imagine this you are sitting in the court waiting to hear the final verdictRead MoreAdolescent Violence And Youth Violence2265 Words   |  10 Pagesadult (Howell, 2003). Literary Review Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is participation in illegal behavior by minors. A juvenile delinquent in the United States is a person who is typically under the age of 17 and commits an act that otherwise would have been charged as a crime if they were an adult. Depending on the type and severity of the offense committed, it is possible for persons under 18 to be charged and tried as adults. Juvenile crimes can range from status offensesRead MoreGang Affiliation and Social Factors Underlying their Deviant Behavior1460 Words   |  6 PagesWe have discussed gang affiliation and the social factors underlying their deviant behavior, however, the motives for why people engage in this deviant behavior have different sociological theoretical explanations. I will use the following theories to interpret and analyze this cause of deviance. Functionalist theory/perspective The Functionalist theory through the studies of Durkheim, states that society is comprised of a greater network of parts that contributes to its stability. The functionalistRead MoreReasons for an Increase Crime Among Young People.1225 Words   |  5 Pagessolutions to youth crime?When we look even closer,there are reasons why crimes done by youngsters and there is also some ways to encouraged them to behave differently. Probably,in everyone’s life,parents are the first role models for their children.It is important for parents to be with and help them to grow from a baby to adult.Common psychology survey shows,those teenagers with happy life are less involved in juvenile crimes compared to teenagers who are sad and depressed.Perhaps,the cause