existing within the criminal justice system of Chicago in the late 1980s. This essay will utilize the theory of critical criminology to illustrate the structures of inequality within the criminal justice system and the subsequent marginalization of youth that exists within the Henry Horner community, leading to youth deviance and violent crime. Beginning with a brief outline of the major characteristics of critical theory, the essay will then address the increasing focus on gang involvement as an explanation
SOCIALOGICAL THEORIES and GANG VIOLENCE Abstract The sociological analysis of gang membership explores the different types of effects that arise due to criminal involvement. Because of the social conflicts that are associated with gang membership, this paper will explore the different theories of social learning and both personal and control issues that relate to the recent surge in crime across Chicago. As we open the doors of a crime ridden society, the truth begins to unfold. It isn’t just the
Gang involvement and its associated violent crime have become a rapidly growing problem for the United States. Generally, gangs consist of young people of the same ethnic, racial, and economic background. Usually of a low socio-economic status, these gangs engage in illegal money making activities and intimidate their neighborhoods and rival gangs with violent crimes and victimization. Gang members exemplify a high value for group loyalty and sacrifice. Gangs often target youth when recruiting
Youth Gangs: The Problem Youth gangs and the difficulties related to them were once thought of with comparatively small concern. However, within today’s society, gangs have become a large problem, not only for adults but for our youth. A gang’s ultimate goal is to recruit adolescents to participate in deviant behavior for the benefit of the gang, which can eventually land the minor within the juvenile justice system. Measuring the scope of the adolescent gang problem in the United States is no easy
Collaboration to Deter Youth Gang Violence Collaborative Project Final Report Douglas Immler, Tinamarie Knowlton, Jon Mast University of South Florida School of Public Affairs Author Note This project was prepared for PAD 6934 Collaborative Governance, taught by Professor Robin Ersing. Abstract In recent times, public officials, community groups and activists have expressed their concern over the growth of violence perpetrated by youth gangs. On their own, local governments
explanation of your topic and/or problem in the criminal justice system. There are many problems that contribute to the social and environmental issues of juvenile delinquency. Several factors are youths brought up in poverty stricken and gang infested neighborhoods, exposure to drugs, violence, physical, mental, and emotional abuse, no parental guidance and neglect. A large number of these children commit violent crimes and more than 700,000 are a part of gangs. 40 percent of the juveniles who are incarcerated
Criminological theory is the explanation of criminal behavior, as well as the behavior of juveniles, attorneys, prosecutors, judges, correctional personnel, victims, and other actors in the criminal justice process. Criminological theory is important because most of what is done in criminal justice is based on criminological theory, whether we or the people who propose and implement policies based on the theory know it or not. In criminology, examining why people commit the crime is very important
comparisons and highlight distinctions about the meaning attached to youth violence, from the modern era to present day. Based on this meaning, we are able to understand the myriad of ways delinquent juveniles are affected by certain policies. Specifically, African Americans are over-represented in the juvenile justice system of Cook County, Chicago. Thus, they are a vulnerable population that is singled out by the system, and this further exacerbates and stigmatizes them. II. Historical
Also due to the changes are transfer laws and the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act. Today, youth gangs exist in nearly every state. A gang is basically an organized group of criminals fill with mostly juveniles. Some different types of gangs are Latin King, Crip, Bloods and etc. One expert estimates that more than 3,875 youth gangs with a total of more than 200,000 gang members are established in the 79 largest U.S. cities. Gang activity has extended beyond the inner city of major population
grounding of knowledge to any criminal justice practitioner or policy maker. Policy makers can utilize the theoretical understanding to design policies that not only address remedies to the current crime problem, but also find the underlying cause of crime to further deter it. Criminal justice practitioners can use criminological theories to address the cause of crime and offer a rehabilitative fix, rather than simply incarcerate offenders. Four theoretical aspects that any criminal theory must incorporate