|
Youth Gang Conflict Resolution
Distinguishing Among ''Youth Gangs'' The term ''gangs'' itself is the subject of many debates. The problem of definition was exacerbated when the availability of government funds induced law enforcement
agencies to survey their communities to identify gangs and build programs to both prevent gang involvement and destroy gangs. Legislation was passed that provided even greater incentives for law enforcement
agencies to identify ''gang members'' to increase the likelihood of prosecution for crime and allow for stiffer penalties. The surveys led to identification of numerous gangs to open the pipeline for
funding. Youth who hung around together and mimicked the same style of non-traditional dress as adolescent youth frequently do were surprised (and unfortunately sometimes delighted ) to find out they were
classified as gang members when photographed by police. Youth of color were particularly susceptible to being identified as gang members. White youth exhibiting similar behaviors were often viewed as clubs,
surfers, dopers or by other names that did not denote a criminal organization. During the frenzy of gang identification surveys the ACLU and human relations commissions often heard complaints by youth and their parents
who were disturbed about their labeling as gang members. None of this is to deny youth gangs exist now and have existed for decades. But most were organized to provide a sense of identity to their members rather
than to commit criminal activity. Did they commit criminal activity? Certainly a number of youth gang members, particularly in the larger cities, committed crimes. Even more when graffiti used to
proclaim one's identity to a gang gained in stature as a serious crime, but their reason for getting together is not to commit crime and they are easily amenable to adopting alternative behaviors. Unfortunately today
with easy access to guns and rifles and drugs viewed as an alternative economy, California faces a far more serious situation then when government funds promoted the battle against gangs in the early '80s. In some areas
gangs are providing alternative economies to youth who have no resources by providing not only a sense of identity, but also a means to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. In these cases crime,
primarily drug trafficking, and violence is endemic to their survival, and long term solutions are not easy to find without addressing the basic survival needs of their members. |
|
Youth Gang Conflict Prevention and Resolution
A distinction
needs to be made between programs aimed at preventing
gang membership, preventing gang conflicts and resolving
gang conflicts. Generally, programs aimed at
preventing gang membership are focused on the individual
rather than the group and are beyond CAHRO's scope
at this time.
This section
is primarily concerned with methodologies for preventing or responding
to youth intergroup conflict occurring in a community setting by
providing constructive alternatives to violent behavior for the
group or gang as a whole. (For information on campus conflict
see school
conflict)
Typically, someone in a low-income neighborhood will have, or gain, the respect of a cross-section of youth in the area and voluntarily intervene to stop or
prevent violence between two or more youth groups or gangs. In Los Angeles, for example, there is a probation officer in South-central, another in the Venice area, and a respected former boxer in the San Fernando
Valley who are looked to by young people to help provide mature guidance and resolve conflicts before or after they become deadly. In North Richmond, an OG (Original Gangster) who spent much of his life in prison
served that role along with a former Black Panther who worked for a social service agency. Although biographical articles about individuals like these appear in the press along with a discussion of some of their
techniques and accomplishments, their work is not formally evaluated nor analyzed for replication. This is something CAHRO hopes to do in developing a program to train practitioners in intergroup conflict
prevention and resolution. Some common methodologies are readily apparent to anyone analyzing the efforts of these well-known mentors in conflict resolution. First, they listen to youth and what they hear
is often repeated. Young people, identified as gang youth, want to be treated with respect by police; they want a place where they can ''hang out'' and not get rousted; they want jobs that provide a steady source
of support; they want to be able to stay in school. Second, they are careful to foster ongoing communication by refraining from demanding youth drop out of the gang and stop criminal activity if they
want to address their issues. Third, they enter into a problem solving conversation with youth, exploring ways to meet their concerns and developing workable strategies. Finally, they serve as an access
point to resources whether it is in the form of simply talking to people the gang members cannot reach, or in building job resources, etc. If you are aware of individuals or programs that are effectively
preventing and responding to intergroup youth violence by working with existing groups of youth or gangs or want a referral to someone in your area please let us know. |
