Mara Salvatrucha Essay

In this research study, we will be examining The Social Disorganization Theory derived from The Chicago School of criminology. The purpose of this study is to better understand the social and ecological characteristics of those whom reside within this community and the environmental influences that may have contributed to the increased crime rate; which has significantly lead to mass incarceration within the urban community. This research will examine how many environmental characteristics impact the community and the particular disadvantages which lead to the increase in crimes? We will also assess the different legislative factors that theoretically contribute to the growing rate in poverty, which ultimately leads to an increase in the incarceration rates? Lastly, we will further explain the correlation between poverty and crime, and how it contributes to greater disparities within the community. These questions will be answered by focusing on impoverished communities consisting of primarily African Americans and Latinos.

Born in LA in the 1980’s, expanding to parts of Canada, Spain, England, and Germany becoming bigger and dangerous day by day. La Mara can now be found in Washington D.C, Oregon, Alaska, Arkansas, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida just alone in the United States. In Central America they can be found in El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala and several other Latin countries. MS-13 is considered to be one of the most dangerous and organized in the world (altereddimensions.net).There are two ways to get into the gang. For males one is to get jumped in, which means the new recruit is surround by numerous members and beaten for at least 13 seconds. The other way is by killing either an enemy gang member or just a simple killing. For females there is a third option which is to get having sexual intercourse with several MS members or as they call it gang banged. MS-13 has many similar criminal characteristics as other gang such as: smuggling drugs, people, and weapons. The biggest difference with MS-13 is the willingness to use brutality in all their activities (keysaferschools.com).

Frank Schmalleger explains the theory of social disorganization as one that depicts both social change as well as conflict, and lack of any agreement as the origin of its cause for both criminal behavior as well as nonconformity to society and closed associated with the ecological school of criminology (Schmalleger, 2012, p. 152). The philosophy behind the organization and structure of a society and how that contributes to criminal behavior within society is by stressing poverty, economic conditions, lack of education, lack of skills, are not sought-after in the work place, and divergent cultural values. Criminal behavior is the result of the person’s assignment of location within the structure of society.

The gangs have formed part of Central America. For a long time, but in the early 1980s they began to work. There are numerous reasons for the gangs to grow because of the lack of education, culture of violence, poverty, and dysfunctional families. The two largest gangs are the Mara Salvatrucha known as MS-13 or Maras and The Eighteen Street gang also known as Barrio 18. The Barrio 18 despises MS 13. The rise of the Maras happened with the migration and the blend of different street cultures. The gang known as Barrio 18 was originally formed by Mexicans immigrants. Over the years, each gang has grown and taken up 60 percent of the population. These gangs have taken over the territories and have also controlled over some prisons

This breakdown of organization and culture within a community leads to a lack of informal social control which in turn leads to higher crime rates especially in the juvenile population (Simons, Simons, Burt, Brody, & Cutrona, 2005). Social disorganization theory asserts that strong levels of connection within a community along with a sense of civic pride motivate individuals to take a more active role in the community therefore acting as a deterrent to crime.

There are No Children Here, by Alex Kotlowitz, tells a story about the family of LaJoe and Paul Rivers. The book focuses on Lafayette and Pharaoh, two of the younger children in the family, and their interactions with each other, the neighborhood, their family, their friends, and the police. Following the family over three years shows the importance of neighborhood factors when it comes to crime. According to Sampson and Groves (1989), social disorganization refers to “the inability of a community structure to realize the common values of its residents and maintain effective social controls”. Many aspects in the book exemplify how neighborhood factors, social controls, and community factors have impacts on crime. The book exemplifies how neighborhood disadvantage can lead to informal social controls, which in turn produces crime. Due to these factors, social disorganization is the best theory to explain the crime that occurs in There are No Children Here.

So far, both theories are able to explain the crime inequality observed insides neighbourhoods; however, when it comes to explaining the difference in crime rates between neighbourhoods with similarly low levels of poverty, social disorganization theory is not able to fully explain why such difference may occur, as it places a greater focus on the internal dynamics of the neighbourhoods than on the external contingencies (Peterson & Krivo, 2010, p. 92). Based on Table 4.5 of Divergent Social Worlds: Neighborhood Crime and the Racial-Spatial DivideI, minority low-poverty areas have roughly two and a half times more violence than their white counterparts (Peterson & Krivo, 2010, p. 88). Social disorganization theory insists that residential instability (percent of those who owns and percent of those who rent) , population heterogeneity (internal differences, including ethno-racial differences), poverty (percent of those who live in poverty), income, deteriorating neighbourhood, and population loss (percent of those who leave due to deterioration) are mechanisms that leads to the absence of informal social control and increases social disorganization, causing the loss of control over youths who then hang out at spontaneous playgrounds and form gangs with delinquent traditions that get passed down through cultural transmission. If such was the case, then one would expect neighbourhoods with similar and comparable local conditions to have similar average rates of crimes. However,

Those that side with Social Disorganization Theory state that this disparity exists because minorities tend to live in communities that lack organization therefore are likelihood to turn to crime. Studies like those conducted by Clear et al. state that Social Disorganization can be used to explain the overrepresentation of African Americans and Hispanics in the criminal justice system because links have been found between residential mobility and minorities (Clear et al., 2003, p.37) (Rose & Clear, 1998, p.448). Social Disorganization also explains the effect of single parent homes on delinquency stating that as incarceration rates increase chances of moving out of a troublesome neighborhood decreases because more costs are thrown on the shoulders of the single parent out of jail (Clear et al., 2003, 38). Clear et al. also hypothesized that high-incarceration can spread easily which would in turn damage informal social control (1998, p.39) (Rose &Clear, 1998,

Wanting to extend the theory of social disorganization and crime beyond the scope of large urban cities, D. Wayne Osgood and Jeff M. Chambers released their study, Social Disorganization Outside the Metropolis: An Analysis of Rural Youth Violence, in order to “assess the generalizability to this setting of the social disorganization theory of crime that has been developed and tested in urban communities” (Osgood & Chambers, 2000). They hypothesize that rates of juvenile delinquency is positively related to residential instability, ethnic heterogeneity, family disruption, economic status, population density, and communities that are closer to urban areas (Osgood & Chambers, 2000). The sample contained 264 counties across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Nebraska that had populations ranging from 560 people to 98,000. The study was measured by the number of juveniles arrested (ages 11 through 17) between 1989 through 1993. They analyzed the arrests for homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, forcible rape, simple assault, weapons offenses, and the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) violence index.

Other researches have taken a look at, to what extent does social disorganization factors such as ethnic heterogeneity in neighborhoods; poverty; dilapidated housing; single families’ homes; and socioeconomic status might influence criminal acts/behaviors that are committed by racial and ethnic minorities (Sampson & Wilson, 1995; Sampson & Groves, 1989; Shaw & McKay, 1929). For example Shaw and McKay (1929) who we can consider the father of social disorganization theory, found that it was not ethnicity or race that influenced these groups involvement in crime, but rather the social disorganization and its location within the area that affected the crime rates. Within this research we will attempt to find ways gain and understanding as to why these areas tend to be more affected than others, and to examine ways to address the lack of support of Social disorganization and racial inequality within

In 1942, Clifford Shaw and Henry D. McKay produced Juvenile Delinquency and Urban Areas, which aimed to explain crime in urban communities using social disorganization theory. Elliot and Merrill (1934) define social disorganization as “a breakdown in the equilibrium of forces, a decay in the social structure, so that old habits and forms of social control no longer function effectively” (p.20). Using this definition and the ecological approach, Shaw and McKay argue that low economic status, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility led to the disruption of community social organization (Shaw and McKay 1942). This disruption is what essentially leads to delinquency and further crime. Numerous empirical studies and tests were conducted in order to determine the validity of the theory. Studies done in the United States and in other countries have also shown support for the theory. In addition, the theory has been extended and revised by multiple scholars and applied to nonmetropolitan areas. The numerous studies and tests of social disorganization theory will prove whether the theory is applicable to other metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas and whether the theory is still applicable to the modern era.

Although my personal experiences are not involved in gang like activity, or serious deviant behavior, it still resembles the actions children make when they are left unsupervised. These behaviors become so normalized in these inner cities, which people just become accustom to delinquent behavior because it is so embedded within communities. This theories concern is only with how the “characteristics of geographical areas, such as whether they are disorganized, influence crime rates” (Cullen). Although I think that this is an interesting aspect to consider upon looking at crime rates, I do not think it is accurate to study a community without studying the characteristics of those who make up the community as well. Sampson and Wilson argue that social disorganization is linked to racial inequalities rather then it being a natural part of city growth. I think that this is an accurate statement, because racial inequality is what creates such a tremendous divide among communities, and I believe that if racial inequality did not exist, we would not have as much disorganization within communities. It has also been argued that “cultural values emerge that do not

Despite the logical explanations of social disorganization theory, it lacked empirical support due to lack of relevant data and its reliance on official crime rates. Sampson and Groves sought to change that fact by using data from the British Crime Survey to test the theory’s validity and generalizability (Sampson & Groves, 2011, p. 107). They introduced three intervening variables that would help measure the extent of social disorganization in a particular community or neighbourhood. Sampson and Groves noted that the most important dimension identified was the “ability of a community to supervise and control teenage groups” (Sampson & Groves, 2011, p. 110). This means that areas that have reported more incidents of delinquency are unable to properly supervise their children, which can lead to the formation of youth gangs, eventually resulting in criminal activities.

Social disorganization theory is defined as “an inability of community members to achieve shared values or to solve jointly experienced problems” (Bursik, ’06), therefor creating a direct linkage to violent crime. The Shaw and McKay model of social disorganization explains the relationship between disorganization and crime the best, stating violent crime, is the normal response, by normal individuals, to abnormal conditions (Bellair). The current state of many inner-city neighborhoods exhibit only disorganization, which is helping to contribute to the growing crime rates of these communities. Low economic status, easy mobility between residents, broken families and large groupings of the same ethnicities are all hypotheses that are

Sutherland stated that social disorganization, the context in which individuals are embed, regulates criminal involvement (Lilly, Cullen, &Ball, 2014; p. 44). Society that has disorganization comes with a higher rate of criminal activity, due to the people living in the area. Sutherland and his differential association claimed that crime was associated with the learned behavior that came from one’s social groups and community. Thus, resulting in the spread of criminality when there are people within the society that fall into criminal behavior. Shaw and Mckay used term social disorganization as to describe neighborhoods which controls have been weakened and criminal traditions rivaled conventional institutions (Lilly, Cullen, &Ball, 2014; p.44). Sutherland stated that differential association is present in community’s criminal culture and conventional culture that take place inside the community. The criminal activity in a society can vary in amount and severity in different locations. Cultural conflict has a role in the idea of the growth of criminal behavior.