Motorcycle Gang Membership

“Gangs have morphed from social organizations into full-fledged criminal enterprises” (Thomas, 2009, para 5). Gangs are highly sophisticated and more dangerous then ever. The number one reason to join a gang is money; and 95 percent of gangs profit comes from drug dealing

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs roots began post World War II. These gangs have been classified as an organized crime affiliate due to the ongoing illegal activities they engage in for profit. I chose this topic because I have always been interested in these groups coincidentally, people I know through the military surprisingly have ties to biker gangs, despite the fact it is not authorized. Furthermore, a number of members are veterans, which makes sense due to a lot of these “clubs” establishing during war times and use a similar hierarchy. One article I had read was about the first Outlaw Motorcycle Club, founded in Chicago in 1935. That article was from the webpage entitled “Outlaws MC (est. 1935) More than Eighty Years of Biking and Brotherhood”

Part of the problem is that in the large major cities youngsters who are suffering from boredom, despair, and poverty can easily be enticed into the idea of being part of a gang. With these ideas of involvement, it is increasing the gang membership in larger cities. Studies have shown an increase in gang involvement since 2003 but now is stabilizing. This is a growing problem because if we do not increase activities such as prevention groups or getting the police involved in community programs in cities encouraging youth participation it could begin to rise again over a few more years. Police need to not be just a figure in a uniform, but get involved and let youth and adults know that the figure in the uniform is a person who cares about them and the community.

Throughout the years, many plausible solutions to gang violence have been presented. A commonly thought of solution to gang violence is to punish and arrest gang members. People want anyone who is in contact with gangs locked up, but that will only make gangs rebel more. By doing so, the streets would be rid of gangs, but jails would be overpopulated with them. It may seem like having gangs in jail would solve the problem, but gang leaders being in jail does not stop a gang from continuing what they’re doing. Arresting gang members teaches nothing except for children to hate the authorities. “From 1985 to 1994, the number of American youths arrested for murder increased 158%, to more than 2,200” (Teen Gangs and Crime, 1996). If a child resents the authorities, they would be more likely to join a gang that goes against authorities. Officials are aware that they cannot arrest their way out of gang violence, and they have to take positive measures (Parks & Recreation, 2009). The most important thing to remember is “To treat this not

Juvenile gangs have become a serious and growing problem in many areas throughout the U.S. It is unlikely that gang control strategies can be successful as long as legitimate economic alternatives are lacking. I will be exploring the possible proactive solutions to this social problem.

A two-pronged prevention approach has proven effective, with primary prevention strategies aimed at the community 's general population and secondary prevention strategies targeting youth between the ages of 7 and 14 who are at high risk of joining gangs. Prevention efforts undertaken by law enforcement departments around the country include: “Participating in community awareness campaigns (e.g. developing public service announcements and poster campaigns). Contacting the parents of peripheral gang members (through the mail or during personal visits) to alert them that their children are involved with a gang. Sponsoring gang hotlines to gather information and facilitate a quick response to gang-related issues. Organizing athletic events with teams of law enforcement officers and gang members. Establishing working relationships with local social service agencies. Making presentations about gangs to schools and community groups as a combined effort at prevention and information gathering. Sponsoring school-based gang and drug prevention programs (e.g. DARE and GREAT)” (Hess, 2013 p.230).

It is estimated that there are roughly 24,000 gangs in America today. There are 750,000 stated gang members. Gangs are taking over our youth and our county. In 1996 50% of all gang members were juveniles. Twelve years later that percentage has not changed. Gang violence is on the rise and it has to stop. We have to take back our streets and our children.

The American headlines of any large city will site killings on street corners, robberies, assaults, intimidation, and drug interaction. While not all-criminal activity is associated with gangs, the 780,000 strong members do account for a large majority of the problems that are plaguing America. There is no one-way to stop gang activity in one single swipe, but through a combination of cooperation, education, and training techniques law enforcement can minimize the gang’s movements and even stop a crime before it is committed.

Organized crime has many relationships that go along with the group. For the sake of the assignment, I will be discussing the organized crime of biker gangs or rather “clubs”. There are many different relationships dealing with biker gangs, both in and out of the gang. Many people see them as a nuisance, while others see them as kind of a group of Robin Hoods.

The results threaten our children at a younger age and are thwarting the virtuous influence of education/school that we try to inspire our children with. It seems that our children see the some good out of joining a gang, whether it is because of security, fear, or pure nostalgia, it is happening and needs to be stopped nationally; the only way to stop gangs is through a national perspective because of the origins of gangs and because the are engrained in today’s culture and need to be a nationwide, or at least statewide initiative.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCG’s) inhabit an active presence in all states and territories in Australia. Some members of these gangs are responsible for serious organised crime and yet the total gang and membership numbers of Australian OMCGs is rising.

Gangs are very dangerous to everyone in society. “Gangs are groups of people (mostly young males) who band together for protection and a sense of belonging. The U.S. Department of Justice officially defines a youth gang as a group of young people involved in criminal activity” (Gangs 1). There are about one million gang members in more than 20,00 criminally active gangs in the United States. Also, that group of about one million people, are accountable for up to eighty percent of our nation’s crimes. Since 2005, gangs have nationally added about 200,000 members (Targeting Gangs 1). This is why more action from the community needs to be taken to help with the growing gang-related crimes here in America.

‘’Teen shot dead in gang wars’’, ‘’ two bystanders killed in gang shootout ‘’, these are familiar headlines at the front page of the local newspapers, aren’t they? Every day thousands of people are affected by gangs across the world. Women are left widowed, children are orphaned and parents are left childless. Let me put what most people are thinking ‘’ gangs are a threat to all of us no matter what sex, age or background we are from. They ruin the safety of a society as a whole, is a never-ending cycle which needs to be stopped and finally being a gang member most probably wrecks an individual’s life.

Justin Cole Forster, the leader of many Bandidos biker gangs, pled guilty due to many factors. In 2013, Forster took part in a deadly violence towards a rival gang and since then he has been watched closely. It has also been thought that he has taken part in a numerous of crimes such as attempted murder, robbery, extortion, racketeering and drug trafficking. There was also a gunfight incident which occurred May 2015 during a biker meeting in Waco which led nine people dead and 170 arrests. As a result of these crimes being committed by the Bandidos biker gang, prosecutes say, Forster faces up to life in federal prison and “ remains in custody in san Antonio pending sentencing next year” (the Toronto star). Furthermore, three more gang members

The problem of gangs persists and lives are still being lost today. Gangs are truly are an assault on whatever community they are in. They tear at the very fabric of family and community life. There have been many attempts to solve the problem of gangs, but most were not backed up by data or hard evidence and therefore they are difficult to assess. One factor as to why gangs cannot be stopped permanently