This becomes further complex as economic ties blur between the poor and middle classes and the expectations each has about the definition of materialistic success. By belonging to a subculture, however, one can feel part of something larger, insulated a bit from the criticisms and unattainable messages of the upper middle class, and certainly a way to belong and feel important with one's own environment (Siegel and Welsh, 2009, 130-1).
Contemporary Urban Issues- in the United States, the National Gang Center estimates that there are almost 800,000 active street gang members, most concentrated in Los Angeles County and the greater Chicago area. Demographically, Hispanics account for almost 50% of gang members, African-Americans 30%, Caucasians 13%, and Asians 6% (Carlie, 2002). Unfortunately, Native American communities are also being overrun by gang violence and drug trafficking. Most tribal communities, in fact, have significant gang activity; contributing also to the continued economic downturn of that community (Eckholm, 2009). The problem of gangs is global in scope, especially in urban areas. There are approximately, 1,000 known gangs operating in the United Kingdom; 100,000 member of Mexican gang; 300,000 members of Russian Gangs; almost 100,000 member in Japan's Yakuza; double that for China's Triad, and yet a paltry (in comparison) 25,000 members of the Sicilian Mafia, in both Italy and the United States (Adamoli, Di Nicola, Savona and Zoffi, 1998).
Structurally, most scholars segment gangs into three types: street, prison, and criminal. Street gangs are individuals with similar backgrounds and motivations who pool resources together because it is often the only way they see out of their economic situation or their own ability to succeed. These groups tend to act collectively to achieve specific purposes, typically that of enrichment through illegal actions (Covey, 2010). Prison gangs are groups that band together for either mutual protection of affiliation while incarcerated or confined. Often, prison gangs have several affiliates in different prisons so that members can remain tied to an organization throughout their criminal career. These groups, however, are not just tied to prison, new research shows that a number manage and organize both activity inside and outside the prison walls. Many prison gangs are based on ethnicity or cohesion of ideologies (e.g. skinheads, anarchists, etc.) (Fleisher, 2006). Criminal gangs that function both inside and outside prison institutions (Mexican Mafia, Aryan Nation, etc.) is usually structured in a way that they term mutually beneficial to the growth of their organization. In fact, because of many criminals that are habitual visitors to the major institutions, a rather sophisticated communications and indoctrination system occurs with many of these gangs (Pappas, 2001).
Trends in gang related activity are down from the late 1980s and early 1990s, as are the total number of gang members in the United States. However much good news that is, though, gang members, particularly youth gang members, still commit a disproportionately higher number of the overall offenses committed by juveniles, and even larger proportion of those that are violent in nature (Ibid). One of the more interesting trends, though, is that despite gang-related activity being something that has always existed in society, the increase in gang activity shown by the media coupled with the extreme violent nature of that activity, alarmed more Americans who now demanded more vigilance from law enforcement, and turned almost angrily to social scientists to try to understand the nature of gang activity (Monti, 1993). We certainly know when an issue has permeated the psyche of America to a large degree when we note the number of gang-related themes that appear in popular culture via television and movies; many bringing the serious and frustrating nature of the problem into a middle-class reality like never before. This is also exacerbated in much of the street and rap music that sometimes advocates violent behavior, and most certainly focuses on a level of hatred and hopelessness that is almost palpable (Spergel, 1995, 130-5).
One of the newer trends in gang activity in American society is that of the penetration of gangs into the U.S. Military; member often using their military knowledge and training to commit or manage criminal activity. A 2009 FBI paper on gang activity found that the military's screening for gang membership is ineffective and that there are documented situations in which gang members obtained military grade weapons and technology for use in gangland activities. According to this report, "gangs are morphing, multiplying,...
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