What can we do to stop the growth of, and violence associated with, street gangs?

free

this all got out of hand after they took religion and god out of schools..so lets start at the beginning..

Cat Atonic

Poverty and inequality breed this criminal behavior. Until we address the root issues, nothing will change. Ever.

Kitten,Doc

It seems pretty simple to this country girl , We have the right to keep arms , We have the right to protect ourselves and our properties. It is the responsibility of the law abiding citizens, neighborhood watch programs,volunteer police posse's and zero tolerance .

It is unreasonable and insane to blame over worked under manned police departments and police forces who in cities may not be able to arrive until hours later after a call , This is a community pride responsibility .Stop crying out you.... have the power to do something , DO IT .As it has been said many times before prevention starts at home.

You allow it and you will have it simple as that .

Dr.Bucksnort

The best way to stop street gangs is with overwhelming force
the gangs don't fear the police or for that matter anyone , so it is time to kick down some doors and knock some heads together

GoCubsGo â„¢

I've seen the movie The Warriors several times, so I'm pretty confident that I am qualified to answer this question. The solution is to have the Cyrus and the Gramercy Riffs call a meeting for all the area gangs, but don't allow the Rogues to come to the meeting because they will just shoot Cyrus.

gnarlyswine

Crack some heads - seriously its time to stop being PC and come down hard on them. The accusations of profiling and racism are ridiculous. The actions of the Rioters in Montreal have only proven that profiling appears to be the correct action. If your little section of the community is full of criminals, then you would welcome police intervention to put this right, unless you stand to lose out as you are actively engaged in crime.

firefighter211400

The problem will never go away. However what I have found as useful are the following. (1) Community Policing with representation of Officers in conjunction with the ethnicity of the residents. (2) Youth days - Police and community leaders have ball hockey games and baseball games with disadvantaged youths. (3) COPS for KIDS program - Police taking kids fishing and to ball games, funded through community groups. (4) Ex-gang members having contact and talks with existing gang members. For enforcement purposes - Zero tolerance with those who choose to commit violent acts. Not everyone can be "saved" but through such programs, it will help.

2legit2quit

It has a lot to do with the family structure. Usually kids that go into gangs want a place to belong, to feel some type of love and to know someone is looking out for them. Their yearn for love is so strong that they would go to any length for it. These kids come from broken homes, where they do not get the affection they want. Also due to low income their parents are usually out working as well. I think what these kids need is a role model, and a good family structure. Its hard to control what is going on in the home but schools can help, I mean those kids are in school more hours in a day than at home so it can have an impact on them. First the younger the better, you need to reach kids when they are in first grade or so. There have been studies showing that this in the long run is the most effective not only cost effective but gets the best results. There should be some type of psychological help for these kids to catch unwanted behavior before it becomes a problem when they are teenagers. What these kids need is to learn how to deal with issues in a healthy way. Teachers should teach kids how to deal with problems like misunderstandings with their classmates in a healthy way. Teach them how to discuss things, to sympathize with others and to know how to communicate. An example is if two children argue but the teacher should put them aside for a while to calm down then as a whole group the whole class should discuss how that situation could have been dealt with in a healthy way, where both children could have communicated their issues without arguing. Another example is have a dog or cat come to the classes once a month to teach kids love and compassion, this through tons of research has been found to have many good effects on people. Also a role model would be wonderful. For example a cop that loves kids should go to an elementary school at least once a month to play and interact with young children. This way children would have a good image of what a police officer is all about that would grow with them as young adults, also it would give a good role model which many children need.

Unfortunately there are many issues surrounding gangs and why kids today are so attracted to them. Its due to economy, culture, broken families, stereotypes, non existing healthy outlets, etc.... Most of these issues are very hard and expensive to fix. Speaking in a logical way the kids already in gangs are a lost cause, i am sorry to say it but to 'fix' them is not very efficient, the key to success is getting them while they are young changing their perspective to healthy ones while they are small. I truly hope I help even in the smallest way, also its great to hear that you are open to others suggestions.

Sid B

Street Gangs function by using terror. Treat them as terrorists. Deal with them not with the police but with the armed forces. Infantry, Armour and gunships would make the price too high for anyone to wish to belong to a street gang. Penalties for joining a street gang should be same for joining any other terrorist organization.

guru

Inequity. The problem of capitalism is that it feeds into greed, jealousy, envy and unfairness. A child born into poverty has no reason not to steal or to sell drugs? How is it fair to him that he was born to parents who cannot or wouldn't provide for him? How is it fair that others should have a comfortable life while he starves each night? How is fair that others should have the "finer" things in life, when he could just as easily pimp out a neighbour's daughter and live off of her?

In the ostentatious display of wealth that is common in society, we often "rub it in" to those who don't have (and often through no fault of their own).

Why live on minimum wage with less than a high school diploma when you can earn a few thousand dollars a night selling drugs?

Why care about anyone else when no one in your local community has demonstrated that they care about you?

Parent after parent is excused from any accountability for the neglect and abuse of their own children and then we wonder why people behave as they do.

Any measure will be a band-aid until parents are held accountable.

Brynna I

I don't believe that stiffer sentences, and more aggressive police suppression are the answer to controlling gang violence. The answer to this is to prevent the problem before is starts. In health, this is called primary intervention and involves doing what we can to stop a disease before it starts and one of the actions taken is to educate people. If we were to use this method for gang violence, we could drastically reduce the amount of children entering the gang circle.

High-risk children need to be focused on. There need to be more programs for children that are living in areas where gangs are prevalent. We need to have in-school programs that teach children about the dangers of this lifestyle and show them the truth of what gangs really are. They need to see first hand the consequences of gangs. They need to be taught that they are worth more than that, and that they are just as good as everyone else. They need to learn that they have potential and that they have self-worth. They need to see that they are not just some kid that nobody cares about. They need to know that they are valued and important. These things must come from outside influence since many of these children can only get these feelings by being with a gang. Something has to be done before they get to that stage.

Andrew J

Give disadvantaged young people better educational opportunities.

Senshockeyguy

I hate too say it, but this problem will NEVER go away.

Boo

shoot to kill and 0 tolernence.

made_in_england_1967

Conscript everyone 18/25 into the armed forces. There was a show in the UK called 'Bad lads army' where a number of volunteer 'Yobbos' were put through authentic 1950's military training. Whilst there were a few who dropped out the vast majority eventually learned to pull together as a team and a number actually enlisted in the Army at the end of the series. I think there is a lot to be said for this approach to reclaiming our youth back into society. Politicians will wince and cite 'costs' but compared with police/court/prison/hospital costs etc, I think it could prove a cheaper option.

Also, as a number of other posters have said, I feel the Governments should admit the 'Drug War' is lost, just as alcohol prohibition was in the early 20th century. If people want something they will invariably find a way of getting it. Take a dealer off the street and he will be replaced immediately by way of demand and the huge sums of money to be made. Regulation is a more sensible option.

Scooby

You said it - At risk youths!
There has to be a lot more money going into education, therapy, after school programs, sports organizations and so on for kids starting from the time they enter elementary school and throughout highschool aswell. Especially kids who grow up in poor communities where their parents have little or no education. It really starts when they are young.
It's a different story with people already in gangs and who are a little older. I think alot of them want to get out but they see 2 options; jail or death. I really believe that there should be rehabilitation programs put in place for these people. I do think they should serve the time if they committed crimes, but there are some people who can be helped I believe. Of course there are those who have committed murder and other heinous acts and should be jailed because they don't want help and they don't have a conscious.
I just think there needs to be more in place than just jailing people. Doesn't stop the problem.

1/6,833,020,409

Rent the movie, "Boondock Saints". Anything short of the methods portrayed in that film is utterly useless.

Also, if one is going after organized crime, one must also go after corrupt politicians that exploit those gangs.

anastasia

For being myself an innocent victims of street gangs i could say they will do anything they can to afraid the population. Its a big thing since all the young people seem to be somehow looking up to them specially with the hiphop that make it seem ''cool''and the extreme violent lyrics dont help . The big problem is that we see teenagers hanging out at the park an terrorising everyone by wearing the colors openely and intimidating the population but in reality the one that are really bad are not the one that are at the park.They are somehow more discret and put the blame on those young ones that get influence easily.Those groups are very agressive and violent and will do anything to get the power. Everyone is starting to get worried cause they hurt innocent victims that have nothing to do with organised crime. They will shoot any body that gets in their way. How often we see that in the news. We have to do something for the youth so they dont get into it and make programs for them specially the one that live in the ghetto and are more at risk to get involve with street gangs. The laws have to be more strict and punish first offense and do follow ups. Give more tools to the areas where there is a higher rate of criminality. Its really sad but there is ways to get rid of them, the govement doesnt offer enough ressources for that . the youth that is involve in street gangs is ruining their lives over stupid things and to many people in the society are getting hurt for nothing

Triegan

I am a strong believer in having parents be more accountable to their children, I do realize that there are some kids out there who are just plain disrespectful, but as parents we really need to be more vigilant as to what our children are doing. Parents need to be more tougher on their children, nowadays society has deemed it inappropriate to be a tough parent. Maybe if we as a society practiced some old school values, things would be somewhat different. There was a time when children were taught that it was disrespectful to answer back someone older that you, or to talk back no less. There was a time when a little ones mouth was washed with soap if they used vulgar language. There was a time when it was incredibly disrespectful to even drink with family, much less your parents.......nowadays it's all backwards. I'm not a fan of hitting children for all disciplining, but in my day if I was getting out of line it was first a warning, then some yelling, and if that didn't do it....then I'd get a kick in the *** or a wooden spoon on the ***.....and believe me when I say I sure smartened up. My parents never hit me, I can only recall 2 or 3 times, but when it happened it hurt, not physically, but emotionally......my ego was bruised. Plus they always sat me down and talked to me and explained why my behavior was unexceptable. My parents never believed in disciplining with hitting, but if they had to they would. I think that this approach was OK, not extreme, but enough so I learned. my respect for my parents never faded, but grew stronger. Now a parent can have there kid taken or put in jail.....now the child has more say on their well being than the parent. Plus this country needs to buckle down on there immigration laws......we already know that lots of these individuals come from countries with more acceptance of violence....it's so common, then they come to our country and think it's ok. If a gangbanger is from some other country, send em back ASAP, first sign of violence.....that would show that the nation has zero tolerance for violence.

Johnny Rambo

As long as we have poverty in are communities we will have crime.

Poverty = Crime & Poverty stricken communities = street gangs

We need a better education system so we can get more people working better jobs

Edit: If a person can't take care of them self, then how can they take care of a family. People that constintly collect social assistence should not be allowed to keep breeding.
Another cause of poverty, kids having kids and welfare mommies that keep having more kids (Use birth controle)

Darren E

Let police protect themselves. In most countrys police dont carry guns and criminals do! Would be quite hard to take out a criminal with a gun wouldnt it ?Police need to step up their game nd approach these street gangs with tough prison sentences and gang/drug cutdowns. Would make the world A WAY BETTER place to live. But no one seems to be bovered to do this .

Eve

You are a great asset to law enforcement.

I really thought the movie "Freedom Writers" was great in addressing this very thing. There just isn't enough LOVE anymore!!! ;~)

Sadly we are all sinking deeper and deeper into poverty and thus the problem grows bigger and bigger.

I think we need more social programs, that address poverty and problem children early on in the school system. There must be social programs to get people off welfare and working, or at least working for the welfare they get. Many people know how to milk the system and don't really care enough to take responsibility for their lives when they know that someone will always provide for them.

But it's really "the times" we live in today. We condone violence on tv, in music, on the internet, it (violence and ganglife too!) is both glorified and trivialized, so we desensitize and sweep it all under the umbrella of free speech and human rights, and yet whine when we reap the consequences of this mentality.

Violence on the rise is directly proportionate to morality on the decline. We foolishly cast our pearls before swine too.

You know, I worked for 30 years and am still quite young, but being downsized out of my job and then faced with no option but to stay home as my kids were quite young, I got NOTHING and STILL get nothing, and never will.

I own my own home (which I paid for all by myself thank you very much!). I raise my kids on my husband's salary and whatever I can make as a SAHM.

I get no benefits whatsoever for my 30 years of contribution to the workforce, probably not even when I retire at this point. I see people on welfare who have more vacations than I've seen in the last 10 years!! Why would some one take the hard road when all that's available these days is minimum wage?

So there is something not quite right about how this system of ours work and there's no incentive. So the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Do we truly have to become homeless to be dealt a helping hand? Others seem to come with nothing and are handed everything. These scales are a bit screwy to me, especially since I am totally jaded having once rented to refugees who laughed in my face as they worked under the table, collected from government, while having them (govt) pay their rent too. I watched them amass furniture, colour tvs, and made me lose thousands in rent and utilities, and in the end after I got them evicted at long last, the ****** comes back to show me his brand new red sportscar....this is TWO YEARS after arriving in this country. And don't think the government sided with ME nor helped me out financially on my losses whatsoever.

We need social programs that work for those who REALLY need them, not every scum-bag who knows how to milk the system. Children's needs (like food and clothing) should be met - more social services are needed, and this should be government's responsibility.

What those from their ivory towers don't realize is that when you come from nothing, you have nothing to lose...and that is the problem. Their only option is fast money, and that usually comes from crime.

I am the first to help a child in need, and will always help children in need, but adults are the problem and we have to save them when they are children.

The problem also is intolerance which only seems to be on the increase too. Most people really don't care. They want to hide and cower and make the problem just go away either with a wish or a gunshot.

I might add that there are girl gangs on the rise too...this is just another form of bullying gone wild.

And I fully agree that parents are firstly and foremostly responsible for not providing the appropriate love, care and discipline to their child.

I know a little boy who told my son's friend that his older brother (in high school) has a gun and is in a gang. I wouldn't doubt that!! There is always trouble in their neck of the woods. The younger brother is such a good kid but with a skank of a mother who doesn't care, no father to speak of, and being raised by an old grandma...this kid gets abused verbally (at the very least), is unkempt and wears tattered clothing, but is a sweet kid. I once sent him home with several pairs of shoes, t-shirts, jeans and a winter coat (it was winter and he had none) and I think they just need to know people care. I talked with the school principal too and hope she did something to help him. I hope he doesn't turn out like his older brother but he's always on the streets at all hours and that's not good news.

Caesar Jeff

Make the criminals fear the law abiding citizens.
Conceal carry laws reduce crime.

Nic

I can think of 2 things that would probably help.

1. All people must be held accountable for their actions no matter what their age. The whole young offender concept was created so that a kid who's 15 and makes a mistake doesn't pay for the rest of his life. There's a huge difference between getting caught drinking underage or misdemeanour drugs and murder, but still they're treated as young offenders. This is totally unacceptable. 1 freebie after that you're an adult.

2. Do away with public housing. Break these people apart. We've got hundreds of people living on each others door step who all have the same pathetic attitude that it's ok to "do whatever it takes to get by". They milk the government collecting welfare and drive BMW's on their drug money while the hard working people pay taxes to allow this. Welfare breeds welfare. Stop the cycle. Put one family in every apartment building in the city and make them socialize with normal people. Let those children go to school with kids who see crime as bad and they will learn it's bad. When kids grow up in an environment where people get a pat on the back for a "good scam" then this is what they will strive for. Show them something better.

Aegis of Freedom

Zero tolerance. We get all pissed off if a child takes aspirin to school (which hurts nobody), but a child that commits crimes in a gang we give a slap on the wrist, set them free and expunge their record when they turn 18. We really have nobody to blame but ourselves. We say "don't do that", but then don't back it up with anything.

We solve street gangs the same way we solve all inappropriate behavior: the carrot and the stick. We have offered massive carrots and no sticks and it doesn't work. Let's start using a bigger stick. Treat teenagers as adults and sentence them the same.

dave b

Gangs should be declared terrorist groups and treated as such.
No mercy.

EDIT: Watch how the thumbs down crowd rail against actual, viable, action against gangs and are championing "a better understanding" and "more social programs" that have all already been tried, and failed.
These are people that would try to convince these scum to live a better life while they were being bound up in preperation to be executed by the same people they try to protect.
These people are responsible for allowing these gangs to thrive and grow.

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