Youth Gangs

Running Head : YOUTH GANGS

Youth Gangs

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Summary

Howell 's article mentioned that the definition of a youth gang varies from every state . They are considered a group of young delinquents assumed to have associated themselves with a gang name . This would correspond to a certain set of characteristics and symbolism usually exclusive to their group . The size of these groups also varies from every location

According to a survey , adolescents join gangs at the rate of 14-30

Their ages range from 12-24 , and their membership continues to expand since 1980 , same with the gang problems reported to the authorities Howell established in his article that a great portion of the country experiences delinquency from these gangs . The article also mentioned that gangs were not exclusive to men . There are some female members reported as well

A large portion of the crimes reported were by the many youth gangs This was given the rate of 3 is to 1 of the crimes committed by non gang related crimes in Denver . In Rochester , it is 7 to 1 . Their influences are definitely greater than non gang members , and the effects can stretch for a very long term . Offense rates significantly drop when the gang leaves the area . That is also because gangs are usually involved with drug and alcohol use . Violence seemed inevitable . On the other hand , there is no relation between gangs and drug trafficking and homicides . Another study also showed that the growth of gangs have nothing to do with gang migration . It was found out that although there was an increase in theft and robbery when gangs migrate , the changes were not drastic in some regions

The composition of these gangs usually consist of Italians , Irish and Jewish . However , according to a national survey , almost half of the gangs comprises of blacks at 48 . Others are Hispanic , at 43 . Whites covered 5 , while 4 were established to be Asians . On the other hand where students are involved , white adolescents are of a larger scale Those black students who admitted they were gang members were 31 of the sample . Hispanic and the Whites got 25 each , and 5 were Asian

Reaction

Youth gang is a fact in any society . Seemed as secret congregations these gangs have brought fear and paranoia in many people . They have become a threat in and society . However , these percentages and studies only highlighted gang involvement by race . These digits can lead one to assume that blacks will most likely involve themselves with gangs and Asians are mostly composed of good people . This form of stereotyping should never be accepted in any society . In fact it should be discouraged

Although the article presented significant data , it somehow failed to establish the causes of these delinquent activities . How did they become a threat ? They have been rated to all the crimes , compared with other transgressions in society , but the author did not include its source . If youth gangs...