The Role Of Gangs In South Central Los Angeles

The Crips started when the Baby Avenues were formed by Ray Washington in 1969. Tookie joined him in 1971 and formed the West side portion of what is now known as the Crips. The Crips were initially started to eliminate all street gangs and create a strong neighborhood watch. Tookie said "we started out to, in a sense—address all of the so-called neighboring gangs in the area and I thought I could cleanse the

In Policing Gangs in America, Charles Katz and Vincent Webb describes every issue in American Gangs today. The ultimate goal of this book is how the gang officers work and the different kind of atmosphere they work in. Their job isn’t like other law enforcement jobs. It’s one of the more dangerous occupation in the Criminal Justice system. These gang officers focus on how they react to public gang issues.

At one point it was a big connect gang now they are in individual sets. The gang is known to be involved in murders, robberies, drug dealing, among many other criminal pursuits. They are locked in a drug trade with the vice lords. The crips got their names from there young age known as cribs. The name Crips was first introduced in the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper. A description of the gang was young men with canes like they were crippled. From then on the name stuck. SO many people joined this gang that they were out numbering members of every other gang three for every one of theirs. Stanley Tookie Williams was the co founder of the crips his side of the gang was called the westside crips. They were most popular in southern parts of Los Angeles. The crips became the most powerful gang in the area and with power comes rivalry. But in this case a lot of other gangs joined in alliance including the bloods. By 1971 the gang was trying to spread its territory through crime and drug distribution, of which was mostly crack. In 1971 a crip gang on piru street ( also the piru bloods) turned into violent warfare. This fight continued into the mid 1970’s causing the founders to have a discussion that ended in the gangs separation and they long rivalry between bloods and crips

The correlation between gangs and drugs has always been an issue for the United States government. Major cities often overlooked the problem of youth gang violence, thinking it was only a 1960’s trend. Sixty years later, gangs and drugs continue to be a problem, but in an increasing number within urban, suburban and rural areas in the United States. People may characterize this problem with words such as violence, increase drug activity, and delinquencies, but not many seem to see the bigger picture. Lack of interaction, collaboration, and strategies from law enforcement, youth centers, businesses, churches, and political icons are increasing gang violence and drug related offenses in major cities. In such cities as Chicago, minority groups are the most vulnerable to joining a gang, which then leads to an involvement with drugs; they are faced with barriers – lack of family support, poverty, segregation, unemployment, etc. An incident that happened in Chicago history is the closing of the Cabrini-Green Project, where people involved with gangs had to find a new home, scattering gang-members throughout the city, and eventually leading to their spread and growth.

With the leading number of gangs in the country, Los Angeles is thought of as the gang capital of the world. Employing gang suppression strategies that take distinct forms, from anti-gang injunctions to high rate of incarcerations, the City of Angels has failed to live up to its angelic name. Known instead for its demonic gang activity and police suppression efforts, Los Angeles has taken over media headlines as one of the most dangerous places to subsist. Representing a worrisome issue for residents, visitors, city government officials, as well as urban planners, gang violence has rapidly become a threat to public safety. Although current-day gang culture has eased off on the violence, it continues to be one of the greatest planning challenges

Chicano gangs have been a prominent part of the Los Angeles community since the early 1900s. These Chicano gangs consisted of young Mexican-Americans, another name used for Chicanos, which were formed as a way for some youth to identify with something. The behavior of gang members was a way of adapting to the social and economic living situation that was upon them. There was a large migration of Chicano immigrants to the Los Angeles area that resulted in several changes directly related to the larger and present Chicano presence. The most notable being the prominent presence of Chicano specific gangs. This is likely due to the fact that many people of Chicano descent are immigrants who came to America with little to nothing. This resulted in large groups of Chicanos being located in some of the poorest areas. Such areas became known as “barrios”, a Spanish term for neighborhood that became specifically in reference to the poor neighborhoods with a high Latino population. The people living in them were often working the lowest paid and hardest jobs needed by those of a higher class in society. It is commonly found that when poverty is heavy throughout a community, many youth will feel the need to act out in some way, and band together in their mutual discontent with their surrounding environment and society. In addition, many youth were also dealing with trying to identify themselves as something and weren’t sure if to identify themselves as latino, chicano, or something

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.

Gangs have existed in the United States for over 200 years. It all started when the first immigrants came to the U.S.A. Most of them came for a better life but many of them ended up in poverty. The first gangs were formed among poor adolescents who grouped together for the sake of socialisation and protection. They were of the same race or the same ethnic background. The first known gang specialized in crimes was called "The Five Points". They consisted of Irish immigrants and was established in New York City. They dressed in a specific way and used monikers or nicknames. Another early gang were the "Forty Thieves". Their gang leader was Edward Coleman and they formed in 1826. New York City's early gangs had an easy time of it because of

In low income areas and large cities, gang violence is a major problem. Gang violence in Chicago is reaching alarming proportions. Day by day they are increasing rapidly. None of the solutions work effectively to eliminate gangs. However police departments and other government officials are trying their best to provide the same security as other areas in chicago. Thousands of innocent people are dying each year from these ill mannered thugs. In today’s societies gang activity is everywhere, whether it includes violence, drugs, death or any illegal activity. There are several aspects which are causing these violent activities. In past years the police department and the mayor designed different strategies to stop this violence. From my perspective better education and scholarships are the only way to reduce gangs and other illegal activities.

This paper was done in response to an article that I came across in which a child was convicted as an adult for homicide. The homicide was supposedly gang-related; the young child that was only 14 years of age was painted as an entrenched gang member. This article made me think what contributed to this situation and how it can be eradicated from today’s society so this will never happen to any of our youth.

Gangs in Chicago go hand and hand because of the rich history this topic has to offer. Coincidence? One may think not. In the time of famous mobster, Al Capone, gangs in Chicago were just evolving but did not live up to the names they have today. This includes their literal name, “gangs” , and the reputation they have today. However, groups similar to these of today have been around since the beginning of time, and not until after Al Capone did these groups get their name of “gang(s)”. Before they were just known as “mobs”. These sort of “gangs” were groups that had similar interests, backgrounds and goals they had in common. However, there is a difference between them then and now, but there are similar characteristics as well. The makeup of gangs today seem to have the same consistent patterns in terms of people who join, how they join, and where they join.

These gangs came in from European countries through Ellis Island. They stayed in New York until they had enough money to move and then went to different booming cities across the United States. One of these gangs was a group of Jewish immigrants who realized that with the enhanced technology in Detroit and the booming industry that it would be a perfect place for a gang. This gang was the “Purple Gang”. Many gangs like the “Purple Gang” were just a group of immigrants who were all the same race who wanted to make money (the easy way). Most gangs were all related to each other or they new someone in the business. The had no education, didn't know how to speak English and still made violence and havoc among booming cities. But unlike the “Purple Gang” and other foreign “gangsters” there were people like Al Capone. Al Capone was an American born Roman Catholic who realized during the Prohibition Era with the rise of gang violence that he could control the whole industry. He became a co-founder of the Chicago Mafia and became known as “Public Enemy Number 1”. He truly started and was the head of gang violence throughout the country. He would kill people, people would

Chicago is the posse capital of the United States. As indicated by the Chicago Crime Commission, a 2012 Chicago Police Department posse review found there are more than 600 gang groups in the city, with a base joined membership of 70,000. As the quantity of gang in the city build, it's troublesome for groups to control large zones. Rather, groups stick to avenues. Domain debate mean expanded contention and subsequently, more

familial, cultural and community ties, gangs are often formulated upon strong common interests. In fact, many gangs have a unity strong enough to expand beyond any physical frontier, representing an issue not just for cities like Los Angeles but also for states like California. For the purpose of my research, I will narrow in on the city of Los Angeles which houses more than 400 gangs and about 39,000 gang members (Villaraigosa 2017). That being said, the City of Los Angeles lies at the center of gang violence and health discourses simultaneously. Inclusive, more than 1,500 people were victims of gang violence in 2016 alone (Villaraigosa 2017). Preoccupying indeed, the Urban center is facing an issue that must be addressed sooner than later.

Gangs have direct effects on a society, such as increased levels of crime, violence and murder. Gangs also have long-term or late suggestions in that gang members are more likely to drop out of high school, struggle with unemployment, abuse drugs and alcohol or in end up in jail. These factors not only contribute to the gang members, but they also force taxpayers to pay for welfare and community-assistance programs. Common reasons for the younger generation to join gangs, include trying to find a place where they belong and sharing in mutual desires for safety from family problems or life challenges. Together, the feelings and attitudes among gang members haze them to act violently, often self-contradictory with rival gangs. This violence leads to injury and death of not only members but also of bystanders in the community. High gang activity also causes fear among community members, discourages business activity and obstructs home-value appreciation. Communities, also must pay for higher levels of law enforcement when gangs are prominent.