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Youth Gang Crime Essay

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Youth gang crime has been a persistent social problem in the United States that has taken lives and significantly affected communities. This paper aims to investigate the underlying causes of teenage gang crime and the effectiveness of the criminal juvenile justice system in addressing it. Youth gang criminality has a long history in the United States, and the earliest recorded juvenile gang, The Forty Thieves, was established in New York City in the early 19th century. Since then, young people have formed gangs all over the country, with the 1960s and 1970s seeing a particularly noticeable increase in gang activity. Youth gang crime is one of the most common types of gang activity, and it has been a serious societal issue in the …show more content…

Individuals, families, and communities are severely harmed by youth gang criminality, which also results in violence, drug misuse, and the growth of criminal activity. California established its first gang-related statute in 1988 under the name of Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention (STEP Act), due to an upsurge in gang violence during the 1980s, particularly in urban areas. With an estimated 50% of all homicides being gang-related, teenage gang crime is still a serious issue in the United States despite efforts to deter it (National Gang Center, 2021). Urban regions with high rates of poverty, unemployment, and social disadvantage, as well as areas with sizable drug trade, are where gangs often emerge (Howell, 2012). Youth gangs are frequently linked to specific racial or ethnic groupings, although recent research indicates that gang participation is diversifying. The establishment of youth gangs is complex, with numerous factors contributing to their growth. Due to the lack of opportunities and resources in their neighborhoods, young individuals from low-income homes are more likely to join gangs while they are poor (Howell, 2012). Teenage gangs also regularly form in places with severe unemployment, social isolation, and poor housing, which contributes to a …show more content…

According to the article, "A Brief History of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice'', “In some communities, youth are intensively recruited or coerced into gangs (Johnstone, 1983). They seemingly have no choice. A few are virtually born into gangs as a result of neighborhood traditions and their parents' earlier (and perhaps continuing) gang participation or involvement in criminal activity (Moore, 1978).” In other words, some of those involved in gang-related crimes at a young age, do not do so by their own will but rather because they have no option. They did not choose that life but rather their parents did so for them. However, due to this dysfunction oftentimes the children involved in youth crime would not respond well to parens patriae when their parents are found irresponsible. The legal doctrine of "Parens patriae" permits the state to act as a "parent" and offer protection and care for those who are unable to take care of themselves. This concept recognizes the state's duty to protect young offenders' welfare and promote their rehabilitation within the context of juvenile justice. The parens patriae theory can be used in a variety of situations when discussing youth engaging in gang violence. The state can first take action to safeguard the welfare and safety of each juvenile

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References Egley, A., & Howell, J. C. (2012). Highlights of the 2010 National Youth Gang Survey. Retrieved from: https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/237542.pdf Sanders, R., & Moore, S. (n.d.). Mandatory Waiver for Juvenile Gang Members in Tennessee. Retrieved from: http://www.belmont.edu/burs/pdf/Social%20Work-%20Sanders%20and%20Moore.pdf Searles, K. (2017).

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