[Saints News] Broken Homes, Poverty & Intimidation - The Forging of the Modern-Day Gang Member

[luna~]

 

Broken Homes, Poverty, and Intimidation

The forging of the modern-day gang member & awareness

 

By Miia. R. Novak, Psy.D

 

 

 Inclusion. Nearly everyone you know seeks it. It is a natural state we are all capable of, and fall back on due to being human - the social creature. We all find that inclusion with various aspects in our lives, be it at the workplace, school or at the end of a suburban cul-du-sac with neighbors. But how does that inclusion, that need for community lead some adolescents or young adults into the life of crime? How can one find a sense of community in a gang?

 

When we think of gangs, the conclusion nearly everyone jumps to is the gang-land violence that ensues with the title. Gang-culture rose during the eighties and nineties, which anyone who resides in Los Santos would probably be accustomed to either by tales or first hand experience. Today however, as society moves forward, so does the thinking and mentality of established gangs. However, what does remain untouched is the brutality and intimidation that has always been present in gang-culture. 

 

As with practically all cases relating to gang-culture, violence is inherent at its core. Anyone participating plays by the notion of it being fair game and feel subject to said violence. This often leads to dangerous scenarios where innocent bystanders may be killed, or injured by the violence inflicted by said gangs, regardless of being a man, woman or child. Some victims of this violence are, or were often once-rival members of an opposing gang. Violence being the central element, it often makes the situation more damaging and complex compared to other forms of violence outside of what would be considered gang-culture.

 

As the modern-age moves forward, adapting to the new technologies forming around us is the norm - same goes for gangs. Once upon a time, gang-members used weapons such as knives, heavy duty chains or homemade crude weaponry such as deadly pipe or zip firearms. Nowadays, it’s shotguns, automatic rifles, handguns and even explosives. Their tools adapt to the changing world, but so do their prevention measures to being caught by law enforcement. In the past, clothing was in essence, the identity of that gang. Seeing as the culture surrounding gangs is built on identity and the sense of inclusion in a community - you can imagine how important the colors are for a gang. Colors like red, or blue were the identifying colors for two major gangs in Los Santos. Nowadays, while the identity still is the biggest factor in gangs - the deception measures needed to avoid law-enforcement have called for changes in how members dress and what colors they use.  The use of accessories such as caps, jewelry and bandanas have diminished in an effort to thwart law-enforcement profiling and noticing them, or recognizing their affiliation. However, even with these deception measures in place, it can still be recognizable.  

 

When it comes to young teenagers or adults, what are the possible tell-tale signs that could hint to gang-involvement?

 

Gang involvement can begin as early as elementary school. Children as young as seven or eight years of age have been recruited to work in criminal street gangs, and are often selected due to their age. This opens the path for manipulation, which many criminal gangs do attempt on young minds. Many parents are unaware that their children could be involved in gang activity. Parents and even educators should watch for signs that their children and pupils might be involved with gang activity. Typically, when it comes to younger ages the most obvious signs would be behavior changes. Many parents chalk it up to being simply a phase, however there could be more to it.

 

In terms of early warning signs, there are a few. Not to be taken as a direct sign of it, however merely to keep awareness to the fact. Early signs could include;

• Experimental drug use.
• Truancy, or absenteeism from school. 
• Change of friends.
• Rebellious behavior at school and home.
• Poor family bonding.
• Having large sums of money or new expensive items which cannot be explained.

 

However, when it comes to direct tell-tale signs, there are a variety of factors that start showing. Such factors include;

• Gang graffiti in their bedroom on items such as books, posters and bedroom walls.
• Wearing a gang’s clothing or colors.
• Disclosure of gang membership.
• Using hand signals to communicate with "friends", other gang members.
• Excessive swearing or cursing.
• Having photos showing gang names, gang slogans, gang insignia or gang activities.
• Initiation activities.
• May carry hidden weapons.

 

While these signs are more than likely the case that the person is involved, there are a few that may not show these signs at all. Not all gang members are obvious in their dress or manner. Asian gangs, for example, are not immediately recognizable by their attire. They often remain respectful to their peers, to authority. They maintain a respectable image, remain in school and keep their grades high. Involvement in a gang is not known until an incident happens.

 

Gang Awareness - What consists of gang-culture as a whole

 

Gangs typically exist in urban areas, and more recently in Blaine County areas as well. They number well over a quarter million youths throughout the West-Coast region. When it comes to Los Santos itself, their violent acts claim an average of one life a day. Due to the easily obtainable supply of firearms, this is the sad fact of the effect gang-violence has on society. This, coupled with the availability of drugs, including alcohol, leads to much of the impulsive violence that occurs. Also worth mentioning that movies, the internet, and to an extent Facebrowser -  often seem to glamorize the rebellious nature and gangster lifestyle which can often lead to younger adults pursuing that type of lifestyle. Street gangs in Los Santos are described by definition under law-enforcement, as a group of individuals who may or may not claim control over a certain territory in the community and engage, either individually or collectively, in violent or other forms of illegal behavior. They do exactly that.

 

When it comes to gang hierarchy - few gangs have some form of leadership, most do not have a formal organization however and resort their leader to the strongest or most active member. When it comes to the naming of a gang, they often take claims to a particular territory or neighborhood and directs its criminal activity towards rival gangs and the general population in the form of robberies, assaults and narcotics sales. That, in essence is the fundamental reason gangs do when they seek that need for identity, that need for community. Rather, leadership roles in street gangs are normally assumed by a member who demonstrates or asserts dominant control at a particular incident they may be involved in. With smaller gangs, however, it is more likely that a single individual will become a recognized leader. 

 

When it comes to how gangs may come up with their name - many adopt names that have significance when related to their neighborhoods (street names, hills, valleys, housing projects, etc.) Some gangs are generally further be divided into smaller groups and such. An established gang may then participate in a variety of anti-social behaviors, such as battery, sexual assault, damage to property, murder, gang wars and other criminal activity that fall under any such gang-related incident. While a gang may participate in such activity, there are various divisions in law-enforcement that are directly involved with the suppression of gang-activity and outreach. Such divisions like the Gang Impact Team of the Los Santos Police Department tend to be involved in such situations. Outreach is also another factor in which the department tries. Reaching out to try and dissuade youngsters from falling in with gangs, and ultimately helping so it won’t affect their life as a whole. 

 

 

Reaching out to those affected by gangs is hard, but there are people who are there to help. If you feel affected personally, try your best to distant yourself from the actions of these gangs. It will be hard, but there are support and youth groups out there that help push you in the right direction.

 

 

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Edited October 4, 2019 by luna~