NEED IN 10 HOURS or LESS

Reflect on one of the following policies or programs0 that may have appealed to you, and discuss this question: why do you think gangs are still an issue in the United States today despite the existence of these programs?

1) MS-13 and Immigration Policy

2) M-18 and Immigration Policy

3) Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.)

4) Transnational Anti-Gang (TAG) Task Force

5) National Gang Targeting, Enforcement & Coordination Center

6) FBI's Safe Streets Violent Crime Initiative

ANSWER THE ABOVE QUESTION AND THEN REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 150 WORDS EACH)

CLASSMATE’S POST

Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T) is a program targeted at prevention. Placing greater focus on the population of younger juveniles who have not yet been negatively influenced by gang related activities and behaviors may result in fewer juveniles becoming entrenched in gang affiliation. Although there are programs and initiatives that incorporate the strategy of intervention, it may be more difficult to draw juveniles away from the gang culture once they have become members than the greater likelihood for the deterrence of membership for those who have never been initiated into a gang (Gau, 2018).  

It is my opinion that gangs are still an issue in the United States because the criminal justice system has the propensity to mask symptoms by immediately resorting to prosecutorial processes which may result in the inability to identify and address the causes and other potential solutions for juvenile criminality. Failure to address and find solutions for the socioeconomic issues, family issues, and juvenile behavioral issues at their onset may create circumstances in which adolescents and young adults are easily influenced during such a formative and vulnerable stage in psychological and physical growth. Additionally, by failing to provide rehabilitative and reformative social service programs and projects for juvenile offenders in lieu of immediately relying on criminal prosecution, once a criminal history has been established and a juvenile has been introduced to the criminal justice system rehabilitation and reformation may become less attainable (Gau, 2018).  

The development of programs and projects providing services that may break the cycle of children, adolescents, and young adults believing that the gang lifestyle is the only option for their survival may provide prevention and deterrence. Through the facilitation of programs and projects providing families with basic needs such as sustenance, housing and clothing, as identified by Abraham H. Maslow, may impart the confidence, feelings of self-worth, and senses of belonging, community, and being protected that gang affiliation may not be regarded as a necessity to some (Peak & Giacomazzi, 2019).

In conclusion, although certain factors having the propensity to lead to juvenile gang affiliation, such as lineage and legacy, have the potential to result in the generational perpetuation of gang involvement by juveniles, other factors such as abuse and neglect of juveniles are issues which may be more effectively mitigated and eventually lead to lessening the number of juveniles from seeking out a system of family such as may be provided by becoming the member of a gang. As such, maximizing the use of services, programs, and projects providing for the hierarchical needs of juveniles experiencing social issues which may lead to criminality and gang affiliation may be the most pragmatic solutions to preventing criminality and gang affiliation in lieu of juvenile criminal justice alternatives that may lead to a cycle of recidivism and transference to the adult correctional system (Gau, 2018; Schmalleger, 2016).        

                                                                     References

Gau, J. M. (2018). Criminal justice policy: Origins and effectiveness. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Peak, K. J., & Giacomazzi, A. L. (2019). Justice administration: Police, courts, and corrections management (9th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

Schmalleger, F. (2016). Criminal justice: A brief introduction (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.