Theoretical Application

thither is a lamentable phenomenon that has been under unbroken study by criminologists and has in addition pre-occupied Ameri shtup order of magnitude, criminal ringings. When the general exoteric thinks of the term clumps, the thought inevitably evokes feelings and images predominately associated with criminal performance that aids to the ruin of their localitys and affectionate settings. The term battalions and the crime associated atomic number 18 often viewed differently by the media and law enforcement personnel and even more distinctively by politicians.There is little debate that understanding what a lot is or is non facilitates the identification of variant types of clusterings and subsequently aids in developing policies and tactics for communities to address their gang problems. These problems associated with the criminal phenomenon of gang activity range from piddling thefts and graffiti tagging to drug use, distribution and homicide. The ailments to a n eighborhood caused and/or associated with gang activity atomic number 18 of a societal disorder that is no endless considered a localized issue. bunchs have become broadly interconnected with calve chapters across the United put ups and even have a presence transnation eithery. Gangs atomic number 18 a criminological problem because the dilemmas of gang activity have large(p) beyond large cities and urban environments and piece a home withal in sm t come on ensemble(a)er cities and suburban behavior. According to an FBI study, criminal gangs commit as much as 80 percent of the crime in more communities and gang extremitys be migrating from urban areas to suburban and rural communities, expanding the gangs influence in near regions (2009 subject area Gang Threat Assessment).The various criminal port gangs in the United States range from small neighborhood-oriented petty units to much larger international and commercial gang oriented establishments. Gangs present a n ationwide problem and the associate issues are magnified by the continuous enlisting of local y offh into gangs which are transnational and internationally based. Many suburban and rural communities are facing an increase in criminal acts attributed to gangs and their contiguous influence on the affable affectionate structure of the neighborhoods they reside in.Los Angeles is one such(prenominal)(prenominal) city that has long been plagued by the presence of criminal gangs. In 1993, gang members were involved as suspects or victims in about one-third of all homicides and historically, between 1980 and 1989, the homicide rate in Los Angeles was more than double the rate for the State of California (Meehan and OCarroll). Los Angeles has been a focal point for umpteen studies conducted regarding the phenomenon of gang activity. As noned, the gang phenomenon has been a focal study of criminological researchers. variant research theories have been assiduous in an attempt to ident ify tender origins and the implications of gang activity. There is an abundance of facts that pertain to gang crime and the relate byproduct of this type of criminal activity. But what are the explanation(s) as to how and wherefore these facts became measurable and accountable? In other words, what are possible causes and explanations to the foot and survival of gangs and its members respectively?Many different scientific theories could be employed to propose answers about the relationships between observable events in gang phenomena. To leave behind an explanation to this phenomenon, a review of gang related issues found in Celeste Fremans G-Dog and the Homeboys is coupled with the contention that such issues are the topic of a cultural imbalance between the societally accepted stake of wealth and the less desired value of hard work, honesty, and command. such an explanation is most appropriately found when applying the criminology based line of credit conjecture.This t heory is derived from exploring the social structures in America and the accompanying opportunities available to pursue socially supported norms want the pursuit of wealth or military position, often referred to as the American inhalation. Ultimately, the dissolver on idiosyncratics to acquire wealth or consideration creates undue test propelling some to seek results through non-institutionalized convey. This is a practice and a sub-culture that is readily accepted within gang phenomenon. The line of merchandise Theory, originally presented by Robert K.Merton, has been used in various studies to support the premise that the American breathing in concept and the pressure to achieve some resemblance of it serves as a causation of crime. It is not uncommon to see reporting of various(prenominal)s resulting to unconventional agent like crime to curb what they cannot through conventional means. The Strain Theory makes an effort to justify factors found in low-income and indu strial neighborhoods. It presents these factors as barriers to chance and instanter attributes them to crime and the formation of gangs.The Strain Theory is dissever of the positive School of Criminology thought and supposes actions are observable and not socially created. Strain Theory consists of elements from social disorganization and an individual lack of norms, termed anomie. The social disorganization and anomie theories are derived from different research platforms but all have common arguments. The proposed thought is that the less in that location exists of solidarity, cohesion, or integration within a group, companionship or society, the higher(prenominal) will be crime, the rate of crime, and deviance (Akers and Sellers).What drives someone to commit such unconventional acts in pursuit of wealth or status? Mertons position concerning an individual pursuing non-institutional means is derived from a persons attitude toward the pursuit of cultural goals such as wealth and status. Merton presented modal values that an individual whitethorn resort to from undergoing personal credit line caused by the limited access to resources hireed to obtain these institutional goals. The way an individual responds or the adaptive manners is parasitical on their acceptance or rejection toward social goals, the American Dream and status, and the hazard available to attain them.Not having available resources and opportunity will directly attribute to gang association and rank and file recruitment. A study of Strain Theory regarding attributing factors of gang membership identified the stigma of poerty status to have a positive effect on gang membership and may even aid to the perception of blocked opportunities (Vowell and May). A neighborhood that is ripe with social problems, low income housing, and little opportunity offers a higher potential for juvenile delinquency and assimilation of like minds such as gangs.Evidence to this is noted in the study of St rain Theory which found evidence that living in a neighborhood where social problems and physiologic deterioration were perceived to be a problem and was positively related to delinquency. Additionally, this study noted that general strain leads to delinquent involvement by weakening the conventional social hold fast and strengthening the unconventional bond with delinquent peers (Paternoster and Mazerolle). This presents the likelihood of individuals determineing similar non-institutional means to obtain social goals from gang membership.Gangs do offer knowledge of non-institutional means and in many cases offer the peer support to an individual pursing what they desire, often it is a derived of the American Dream. The Strain Theory provides a plausible reason wherefore most crime is fixated in certain areas of urban cities, supported by the assertion that social culture and structure must be weighed as equal parts. The theory by Merton emphasizes that society places more impo rtance on the success of an individual achieving wealth or status than on the socially accepted means by which this success is obtained.All classes of American society have been inundated through the media, politics, education, and marketing that success is the most chief(prenominal) social value. Yet, the opportunities to attain this success are limited in the blue-collar of society and thus provide a breeding ground for gang creation and advancement. When these opportunities are pursued, they are expected to be desire out in truthful and socially accepted ways. Unfortunately for our society, more dialect is placed on obtaining the American Dream and the success of wealth than the manner in which it is accomplished.There is a dominant belief in the American Dream or social status and this belief is one that encompasses all classes of society. However, equal opportunity, the socially recognized need to attain the American Dream or status is unfortunately distorted among the lower -class of society. There is an squall from these citizens who consider resources available to capture their goals as distorted when compared to other classes creating a springboard of stress.Even though all citizens of our society believe and appraise their success by obtaining some portion of the wealth and status, some are not provided the standard resources to meet the expectations demanded to acquire it. Building on the strain theory, Albert K. Cohen pursued a position where male unnatural behavior was in response to blocked opportunities and was an assimilating attribute of the lower-class subculture produced from social structure strain (Vowell, & May). The deviance provoked behavior was due to the inability to pass social prominence.This is similar to Mertons variation of Strain. However, Merton centered on material wealth rather than a position in society or status. Middle-class citizens are accepted and supported in work and education environments because of they typic ally are able to meet social expectations required of them for status or of wealth. Unlike the middle-class, the lower-class populous finds it difficult to meet socially accepted standards due to the limited access to available resources and result to deviate behavior.This is often materialized by the formation and acceptance into the social subculture of gangs where the rejected find common ideology and share in access to unconventional means such as crime. It is in this subculture of gangs that the unconventional measure to achieve a certain status or respect is found. The Strain Theory proposed that the deviant assimilation is carried out by identifying the opportunities that are also legal means, not just the illegal ones.In essence, the premise is do that an individual is not driven to conduct criminal behavior solely by the suspicious desire to acquire wealth or status but also there is a learned behavior of criminal means and acts derived from the social environment they a re reside in and ultimately exposed to. This can be expounded on within a gang environment producing criminal acts of different sorts to foster the pursuit of status and wealth. As mentioned, the issues of gang activity in Los Angeles present an oerwhelming constraint on positive social development brought on by criminal activity.The criminal acts carried out by the likes of gang members within the Los Angeles neighborhoods highlighted in G-Dog and the Home Boys are a result of the absent non-supportive family structure needed. Employment opportunities, when provided by start out Greg (G-Dog), are ridden with social hurdles. To even pursue the opportunity, they must first escape beyond the cover island their gang resides on and trespass into those areas marked as enemy territory. Such enormous impediments can seem overwhelming and result in an individual retreating into the fold of his fellow homies, dismissing the potential of an opportunity.This hurdle is secondary to the perce ived reprisal time lag in the wings of the Los Angeles Police Department and the subsequent sentiment fellow gang members have of abandonment. The various gangs, primarily Clarence Street Locos, viewed by Fremont over the shoulder of Father Greg all were comprised of members who were predominately juvenile, from a broken or deteriorating family structure, out of or were recoiling from school and education, jobless and possessed little belief in the prospect of a future without the support of their fellow gang members.Whether the eastmost L. A. Dukes, Capones, The Mob Crew, East Coast Crips or another Latino or African American gang, the predominant make-up of its membership were part of an unlettered and poor community searching for a sense of belonging and a way for survival. Members like Dreamer, Turtle, Ghost, Droopy, Ghost, Oso, Silent, etc. , all battled a daily affair of gang life in and out of the projects. Members of the community of gang ridden neighborhoods of Pico Gar dens and Aliso small town had little to offer its inhabitants. These predominately Latino immigrant ommunities possessed little in way of educational or employment opportunities. There were little options for jobs and instead the community youth found themselves marketing the gang arenas for membership. Most of the Clarence Street gang members became role feignings for their siblings and continuously offered veterano advice for participating in gang life. This type of life was all that seemed to be obtainable, due in no small part to the lack of opportunities. This then became the only way they knew to get what they wanted in life.The lack of opportunity is magnified without a solid role model and father figure in their home. This was a constant variable throughout the insights collected by Freeman provided by individual gang members. When there was a father figure present, it was one that showed little compassion or even interest into their life. The lifestyle as a gang member wa s the opportunity that was available to them and is what filled the void of family and acceptance. Their daily struggle is unembellished in the simple but deadly decisions they had to make visible in determining a roundabout path to a party or through an enemys territory.The homicides that occur, the decisions to hit back, the dishonorable choices made when confronted by another gang, the fear of police, the need to find employment, the hopelessness of education, the strained choices to sleep in cars or homeless shelters, etc. , all are attributing factors of stress that result from a lack of opportunity when pursuing a life of normalcy. Gangs come into existence and flourish because the needs of the young bulk in a neighborhood or culture or family are not being met.The gang, in essence, fills the void (Gardner). The American Dream and the need for status present the same needs often sought afterwards by unconventional means through gang activity. No disbelieve Father Gregs com mitment witnessed by his numerous attempts to help over and over again through mental and economic support created opportunities other unavailable. Not to mention his eventual creation of Homeboy Industries and the overwhelming economic prefer it offered in reducing negative employment and neighborhood induced stress.Gang Phenomenon is a socially adaptive instrument that offers the mechanism to fill the needs, such as the wealth and status, of the deprived juveniles. The gang and its members discussed in G-Dog and the Home Boys sought nontraditional means that were socially unacceptable but filled the emptiness caused by the lack of opportunities in the lower-class communities they resided in. As long as there is apparent or perceived blocked opportunities and unequal resources in the lower-class, gangs and their related criminal activity will be a move issue for America.BIBLIOGRAPHY Akers, Robert, & C. S Sellers. (2009). Criminological Theories, Introduction, Evaluation and App lication. New York Oxford University Press. Fremon, Celeste. (2004) G-Dog and the Homeboys Father Greg Boyle and the Gangs of East Los Angeles. University of New Mexico Press. Gardner, Sandra. (1992). Street Gangs in America. Franklin Watts, New York, NY. Meehan, Patrick and Patrick OCarroll. (1992). Gangs, Drugs, and Homicide in Los Angeles. American Journal of Diseases of Children 146.Paternoster, Raymond and Paul Mazerolle. (1994). General Strain Theory and delinquency A Replication and Extension. Journal of Research in crime and Delinquency. Volume 31. The National Gang Intelligence Center. (2009). Product No. 2009-M0335-001. National Gang Threat Assessment. Vowell, Paul and David May. (2000). Another Look at guiltless Strain Theory Poverty Status, Perceived Blocked Opportunity, and Gang social status as Predictors of Adolescent Violent Behavior. Sociological Inquiry. Volume 70.