Gang Violence & You!

Gang Violence and You

Written by: Deneale K. Williams

      You may not see them, you may not know about them, but gangs are real, and they are everywhere. And maybe you do know about them, and just pretend not to. Whatever the case may be, today is the day you will learn more about them, and become further educated so that you can know what it is you are seeing, and how to cope, deal, and even avoid, and many more things, that will help you.

     Cocoa, Florida is one of the most dangerous regions in the United States. Chances of becoming a victim of any type of crime in the city of Cocoa are one in eight, however the average crime rate of this city has been decreasing each year. 

     Allow me to list a few gangs here that I know exist: East coast crips, Blood Line, (this is a prison gang), Black P. Stones AKA the Jungle stones or JS, which is a blood gang; also, Clanton 14, which is a Hispanic gang. Then there are: the gangster crips, Blue notes (another prison gang), Westmont which is unincorporated and is a south Los Angeles Hispanic gang. This is a small list of gangs, just to open your eyes, and these are the bigger and well-known ones. Usually the smaller and more secretive ones that are in your local towns, and yes, in your schools are kept on the ‘DL’ which is down low. 

     As you read this, you are wondering what makes a person become a gang member? Sometimes it is just plain and simple being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and other times, it is just low self-esteem, and even depression. Other times, it may even be simply desire, and then maybe even to see.

     However, studies have shown that the lower income families, and those that have lack of education, and funding for improvement in these low-income areas have often proven to be disastrous. Especially when further problems occur in these areas, such as disaster, shootings, lack of police, etc. With these type of problems, gangs will and do develop. Poverty has control of the situation, and with violence increasing, the pressure is there to follow, especially if ‘someone’ wants to play it safe. 

       The characteristics of gang members are simple. Some of them were once simple people, but once they have been incarcerated, the system taught them gangs, and now they feel safer that way. Some have had violence in their life at all times, and feel that violence is the only answer, the only way of life, and the only way they know. Some who are in gangs, have never had an education, never had family, never had anything but the gang life. This is all they know, and that is the way they feel safe. The gang is the surrogate family for the members, and for them, this is safety, not just that, there are safety in numbers as well. 

     As a parent of a child, encourage your child or children that being in a gang is not the answer. Communicate with your children, teach them that if they feel the need to join a group, that there are other resources such as: Church youth groups, extra-curricular activities within the school system, (usually), and maybe even you as the parent could come up with something to do with your child together. Perhaps a dance class, karate, go walk the park, something that your child will want to do, even if it is different each time. You as the parent need to be versatile as well. Even if it means involving another family relative, who the youth likes being with. Encouragement is a key factor too, as well as communication. 

      Supply your child with the truth, the guidance and understanding that he or she needs, and teach him or her that the gangs are there, and just how dangerous they are. Explain everything. The truth is always the best option. 

      The School system should also be preparing and education the children on gangs, and showing them things that they can do, and how to avoid them. Posters, counselors, and meetings in the auditoriums from time to time to reassure and explain. 

      There could be a time when a youth may realize they actually want out of the gang. This is a good thing. The best thing you can do is support their decision, and not act surprised or worried. The next thing you need to do, is listen to the youth’s story as to how they became involved in their gang, this way you know if it is wise to contact the parents. If it is not, then you know you will need to contact the authorities, which you quite possibly need to contact anyway, depending on how serious the gang is in the first place. 

      If this is just a small secretive little school gang that truly is just made to bully other students, then it should be able to be controlled within house of the school system, providing the youth gives you all of the names of the others. If not, there may be further problems with bullying of this youth. 

      If it is a serious gang, as stated, authorities will need involved, and perhaps even the parents. If the parents are not qualified, maybe the grandparents, least wise social services, will need to be contacted as the child’s advocate. This is to protect the rights of the youth. With everyone involved, including law enforcement, the youth should be able to regain his right place of freedom, if worse comes to worse, he will and could be relocated for safety. 

       Did you know that there are signs that you can look for to tell if your child may be in a gang? Like these: One pant leg rolled up, gang names tattooed on body, especially knuckles, doing poorly in school, dropping out, always wearing the same color combinations, acquiring new possessions 

without having any money, disrespecting many around them, talking differently, just to list a few. 

      The white house fact sheet blames single mother households, without fathers in their lives for teens joining gangs. Teens feel that joining gangs gives them the sense of having the protection of a father like figure. This gives the teen a sense of worth, and discipline, something the teen feels they are not getting at home. If this seems like something that could be happening in your home, now is the time to address this issue. 

      Encourage your child to think independently and get involved in their life. The White house states that parents are less involved in their children lives due to the economy, and working more. Unfortunately, the white house doesn’t see this as a sign to fix the economy, just as something to point out as a flaw, with parenting issues. Therefore, it is up to the parents to make the change, and fix the problems, not the government. 

      Just because the white house fact sheet finds single mothers as the most common flaws for teens joining gangs, does not mean that all systems have found the same results. There are all sorts of tables, and graphs who conduct research and many fingers will point and lay blame. Therefore, no matter who you are, don’t let the finger pointing get you down. The system is never one hundred percent.

      A child’s own curiosity can be the result of joining a gang, rebellion, simple boredom. There are many causes and actions, it just all depends.

     

      Here are some very informative things we found worthy of sharing with you:

http://graspyouth.org/ Gang Rescue And Support Project

http://www.gangprevention.ca/partners/get-help Gang Prevention - get help!

http://www.helpyourteens.com/teen-gangs-and-cults/ Help your teen with gangs & cults!

https://youthservicesslc.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/why-teens-join-gangs/ Why teens join gangs & how to help get them out! Article

https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/  The National Gang Center Government Site

http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-and-Gangs-098.aspx   Facts for families regarding gangs

https://middleearthnj.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/8-ways-to-keep-your-teen-out-of-gangs-and-yes-they-do-exist-in-your-community/   Ways to keep your children out of gangs (Clarifying, yes they do exist!)

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/02/08/joining_a_gang_how_to_help_kids_prevent_it_how_to_tell_if_theyve_joined_one_how_to_help_them_out.htm  How to prevent kids from joining gangs & how to help them get out of them

https://nij.gov/journals/273/Pages/preventing-gang-membership.aspx National Institute of Justice - Preventing Gang Membership

http://www.streetgangs.com/ details about street gangs

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/talking-about-trauma/201308/poverty-broken-homes-violence-the-making-gang-member#_=_ What makes a gang member – something you might want to read and know

https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/gangs The FBI’s site on Gangs

http://people.howstuffworks.com/street-gang.htm simply explained about street gangs

https://youtu.be/vG0kSuYfDWA ten most dangerous gangs on Earth - @Youtube

http://www.livefromlockdown.com/WHY-DID-I-JOIN-A-GANG/ truth be told

https://www.ojjdp.gov/jjbulletin/9808/why.html Why do youth join gangs – an article

http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/CommunityPolicing/OrganizedCrime/Gangs/GettingOutOfAGang.aspx  Important- getting out of the gang!

     If you worse come to worse, go to your local police department for help, they will help and guide you. That is what they are there for. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, do it, before it’s too late.