We were given a choice of researching whatever we wanted to for this research paper, so I have chosen to research and write about gangs in America, and the most dangerous cities and how these gangs effect them. I will begin my research by defining what exactly a youth gang is. “Youth gang: a self-formed group of youths with several identifiable characteristics, including a gang name and other recognizable symbols, a geographic territory, and participation in illegal activities”(CJ3, Chapter 13 The Juvenile Justice System). I will then research how and where the idea of gangs in the US came from. I will continue my research with talking about the most dangerous gangs in American and each of those gangs’ background information and reasons as …show more content…
Individual sections of 18th Street can have twenty to a few hundred members. 18th Street members are predominately Hispanic, consisting of either first generation Americans from Mexico, or illegal immigrants from Mexico. 18th Street also known as “The Children’s Army,” tend to recruit younger children. The age range for this gang is 12-28 years old. The members of 18th Street are required to follow a strict set of rules. Members are also not allowed to use or do any serious drugs. If any member breaks the rules or are unable to follow directions given to them by an older member, they face a punishment which usually ends with death. Of all gangs I have researched, 18th Street seems to be the most independent in a way of not having a hierarchy running them, but instead each section running …show more content…
(Delinquency in Society: The Essentials, page 359). In the year 1994 gang related deaths were at an all time high, Chicago and Los Angeles alone had over 1,000 deaths caused by gangs. As the years have gone by, the number of gang homicides has increase. Possible reasons why their has been such an increase in violence may be, more and easier obtainable weapons, which leads to more gang members having guns on their person. Throughout the United State cities saw a shocking 11% increase in gang related deaths in a short span of eight years. (Delinquency in Society: The Essentials, page 359). As time goes on the numbers of gang related crimes in these cities have