STUDENT & PROFESSOR REPLIES

STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #1 Shonterie Kennedy

Prison gangs are criminal organizations that originated within the penal system, and they have continued to operate within correctional facilities. These gangs are also self-perpetuating criminal entities that can continue their operations outside the penal system. Usually, a prison gang consist of a select group of inmates who has an organized hierarchy and who are governed by an established code of conduct. Street gangs are located throughout the US, and their memberships vary in number, racial, and ethnic composition, and structure. Large national street gangs pose the greatest threat because they smuggle, produce, transport, and distribute large quantities of illicit drugs and rely on violence. Both gangs are dangerous and has the means to keep operating by using drugs and violence. An overcrowded prison can be a considering actor for the proliferation of gangs, crime rate has grown, and individuals are arrested daily which overflows the prison system and there aren’t enough workers to watch inmates. Some other factors can include protection, prison is intimidating, and many individuals will join a gang for their or protection and safety. Another reason would be that those who are incarcerated crave the attention of having a family, so they join the gang to become a family. I believe the reason it is difficult to combat prison gang because most individuals are already there, and they don’t care about committing crimes. Low staffing can be an issue, and the guards that are already working don’t want to deal with the issues because of their safety. Prison gangs still have connections to the outside world and could potentially cause harm to a guard or another inmates family member.

Reference

Prison Gangs. (2021, April 29). CRIMINAL-OCGS | Department of Justice. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ocgs/gallery/prison-gangs

Criminal Street Gangs. (2021, April 30). CRIMINAL-OCGS | Department of Justice. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ocgs/gallery/criminal-street-gangs

PLEASE READ ALL STUDENT REPLIES AND ANSWER EACH ON WITH EXLEAST A 150 TO 200 WORD COUNT AND MAKE SURE YOU REFERENCE EACH ONE. ALSO MAKE SURE YOU PUT THEIR NAME BY EACH ANSWERED REPLY AND KEEP THEM ON SEPARATE PAPERS LIKE I HAVE THEM HERE. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK THANKS….

STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #2 Martina Dorsett

Both the gangs are dangerous; however, the difference between prison gangs and street gangs is that there are fewer members in the prison gang, and they are less violent. Yes, the prison gangs can murder each other. However, the street gangs have more weapons and resources to murder several people and distribute drugs. The street gangs are more chaotic and violent. They both focus on their need for survival. Gang membership and leadership structures in prison are rigid and not susceptible to the changes common amongst street gangs.

Many factors contribute to the increase of prison gangs. To name a few, there are thousands of people being arrested a day. The inmate population is growing by the min they are overcrowded. With that being said, inmates join the gangs for protection. And some of the inmates are just violent, so they coerce other inmates. Many of them are street gang members that have been arrested, so they are in prison doing what they know.

It's challenging to combat prison gangs because they are already in prison and doing time. Some are facing life, so they feel they have nothing to lose. So how can you combat prisoners that have nothing to lose. Also, they have correctional officers in their back pockets. Many of the guards are crooked and work with the members because their families are being threatened. Just because they're in prison doesn't mean they don't have power and access to the streets.

References

Ortiz, J. M. (n.d.). The Power of Place: A Comparative Analysis of Prison and Street Gangs. Retrieved from https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1081/