Street Gangs of Los Angeles Essay

In todays United States we have a huge problem affecting society, gangs and the violence that follows them wherever they go. These days’ gangs aren’t just compiled of grown adults, they often lure in young teens to do dirty work and to add numbers to their turf. Despite laws aimed straight at these gangs they still defy the law and wreak havoc upon the territory that they claim. The members in the gang have a gang first mentality and will do everything possible to provide for and protect their fellow members. They will very rarely snitch on their own to help put a stop to some of the meaningless crimes committed by these savages.

but you may also see strange writing below it. They say to other gangs that

In society today, there is a major problem We live in a society where gangs are taking over our neighborhoods in numbers. It is the responsibility of the individuals to part take in getting their neighborhoods back under control. Gangs are becoming a growing problem in American society. More young people are turning to gangs to solve problems in their lives or for acceptance. When youths join gangs, they drop all their social activities with school, family, and friends. However, individuals ruin their lives, and the chances of them having a decent education, and a successful life by getting involved in gang activity.

In the movie “Gangs of New York”, we see a city changed and reshaped through cultural influence of feuding individuals with different ideas. The movie is about a young man, Amsterdam Vance, who seeks to avenge his father, who was brutally murder in a gang dispute, against his adversary Bill the Butcher. On the surface the movie seems simple enough but in the back ground we see a cultural shift as immigrants come into America. Also we see political influences and material possession such as clothing and other belongings set people apart and define the social status of the

Gangs of New York (2002), a bold and violent movie directed by Martin Scorsese takes us back to a New York without skyscrapers and modern-day lavishes that shows the rise of violent gang power and political corruption. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis, the film features a personal struggle placed within the context of gang warfare between Nativists and immigrants, which is set in the larger context of the Draft Riots and the Civil War. It is a reconstructed historical narrative that uses interlocking events filled with gang violence and political corruption to show how the modern New York was born.

Picture Manhattan in 1860, a time before the city had been dolled up and gotten ready for the silver screen, before the glamour and allure took over. Amsterdam Vallan (DiCaprio) is a young Irish man that migrates to the USA at a young age. Amsterdam’s story takes place in Five Points District of New York, a filthy and dangerous part of the city before it was deleted form history. As a young boy Vallan witnessed his father’s murder at the hand of William Cutting or Bill the Butcher (Day-Lewis) during one of their many gang wars. As Amsterdam’s story progresses along side The Butcher they become inseparable, but Amsterdam had ulterior motive. Ultimately, Amsterdam attempts to betray his new found ally in order to avenge his father’s death.

Rational Economics Theory is utilized as an umbrella argument to explain why all individuals, including youths, become integrated into gang organizations. The theory is downright the same to microeconomic Rational Choice Theory and argues that individuals, in their desire for financial gain or more utility, utilize gangs and criminal organizations as a means to achieve their ends. Gangs are seen as nothing more than businesses or organizations that serve a primary economic function and act to provide financial sustainability for those without the ability to achieve it through other, more legitimate means.

Statistics Canada has done research on identifying the facts that are contributed to the definition of a youth gang member. Partnered with the Montreal Police Service, Statistics Canada was able to generate the definition of a gang member: "An organized group of adolescents and/or young adults who rely on group intimidation and violence, and commit criminal acts in order to gain power and recognition and/or control certain areas of unlawful activity [2] (Statistics Canada, 2008).

“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

This theory has a different focus than typical theories; in this theory, conformity is emphasized, specifically, with the focus being on the reasoning behind why people conform and obey society’s rules, instead of why people deviate from norms. This theory operates under the basic assumption that delinquent behavior occurs because of a person’s bond or tie to society being weak or non-existent. There are four elements that make up this bond: attachment to others, commitment, involvement, and belief. Thus, the stronger the bond’s element, the less likely a person is going to engage in crime; likewise, the weaker the element of the bond is, the more likely a person is going to commit crime. Also, all four identified elements are said to be connected and interdependent, so a weakness in one element will more than likely lead to weaknesses in the other elements. In other words, these elements control a person’s level of conformity; crime control stems from one’s ties to conventional society. This theory also assumes that people are born naturally selfish; however, this is not a born tendency or trait. Rather, this means that the motivation for crime in society is evenly spread out since everyone has the same inclination for crime. Similarly, under this theory, the way people are controlled by society through these bonds is

The strain theory suggests that people who feel unequal around those they perceive to be successful, can become frustrated in their own perceived failures. Causing the strain on their life and perhaps turning them to crime as a means to success. As it relates to gangs, youth who grow up in areas where gangs are present and fall in to this category, see gangster life as a quick way to success. They are impressed with the fear that forces respect from others, the “easy money” and the loyalty amongst its members. Sadly, gang members know this and exploit these as fertile recruiting areas.

Social Disorganization “is a branch of social structure theory that focuses on the breakdown in inner-city neighborhoods of institutions such as the family, school and employment” (Seigal 164) These types of environments make it more susceptible to have youths become involved in gang activities as well as recruit other youths (164,Seigal).

The Differential Opportunity Theory was created by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin. Cloward and Ohlin were influenced by Merton’s Strain Theory and Sutherland disassociation theory. Together the two created there works entitled Delinquency and Opportunity: A Theory of Delinquent Gangs (1960). Gabbidon (2010) simple stated that when there are limited opportunities youth join gangs with one of three orientations. Cloward and Ohlin said that there are three types of gangs in their theory criminal, conflict, and retreatist. There have been many empirical studies on what affects people to join gangs or participate in criminal activity. As well as different methods and approaches others have taken to measure what influences youth to join gangs in

This theory has often been called a “bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories” because it instills attention, memory, and motivation within those individuals. Gang membership is one of the numerous delinquent behaviors that correlates to the Social learning theory, because there are various factors that individuals desire such as power, money, respect, etc. that is observed through gang relations. Gangs, to some individuals, is the actual gateway to success. Majority of these gang members grew up in the communities in which these organizations are present and these individuals seek some sort of protection, power, or whatever that individual is missing from their own lives and join the gang to fill that void whether it be one factor or numerous factors. Most of them has witnessed the lifestyle of that gang and are influenced by its purposes and “perks” that the gang may render. Most members join because they can relate to other members and a lot of the members are lacking the social support and feel that joining the gang could help the situation as it is gives them the sense of belonging to, and identification through the

Juvenile delinquency and the rise of gangs in the youth community is a huge problem in our society today. There are many reasons to as of why the rise of juvenile delinquency is occurring, some of these reasons being wanting materialistic things, higher status/reputation, or for personal problems.  However, there are many theories to explain why they commit crimes or join gangs and their activities. Some of these theories are Strain theory, Anomie theory, Subculture of delinquency, and Differential opportunity theory. These 4 theories help give us a further understanding of the reasoning behind why juveniles commit such criminal activities. It provides us with the motive and mindset of young offenders that commit such crimes. By applying these theories to such a problem, it helps us realize that this is an issue in our society and know what we can do to prevent this from rising even more.