Anti-Gang Program Evaluation



Table of Contents

ANTI-GANG PROGRAM EVALUATION1

LITERATURE REVIEW4

Theories of Criminality4

Social Bonding Theory6

Theory of Differential Association10

Samenow's Criminal Theory14

Critical Discussion: Samenow's Criminal Theory17

Social Learning Theory18

Gangs20

Types of Gangs20

Gang Violence30

Gangs Prevention Programs31

Mayor's Gang Prevention Initiative34

REFERENCES36

ANTI-GANG PROGRAM EVALUATION

Movies such as The God Father, Scarface, and Goodfellas glamorize Italian mobsters as a lifestyle to look up to while movies such as Boyz in the Hood, American Gangster, and Colors depicts street gangs to be feared. The contrast can be seen by the suits and flashy expensive lifestyle as portrayed by Italian mobsters compared to the slums and chaos depicted in street gang movies. While the differences can be attributed to when the movies were made, but the biggest explanation is to how TV, radio, and print media depict gangs. The depiction of gangs in the media leads individual to fear for their safety, believe that crime and criminal behavior is more prevalent than they are, that crime is often violent and random (Dowler, 2003; Surette, 1990).

Mass media plays an important role in how the public view issues with gangs and how the criminal justice constructs criminality and gangs. According to Dowler (2003), the perception of victims, criminals, and law enforcement is influenced by the mass media. Media describes gang members typically as males, minority, from the inner city, and usually from the inner city (Esbensen & Tusinski, 2007; Dowler, 2003). Gangs are depicted as well-organized units, with a hierarchical structure with cross the country, from a low socio-economic background, and single-parent homes (Dowler, 2003). The common misconception of gang members is that they are young, African-American male, who are heavily armed, commonly engage in violent crimes, live in communities plagued with crime, and all hate the world (Covey, Menard, & Franzese, 1997; Esbensen & Tusinski, 2007; Dowler, 2003). However, the reality is far from the actuality. The reality of who and what gangs are if often blurred in media depictions. According to Esbensen and Tusinski (2007), recent research on gangs contradicts the stereotypes of gangs portrayed by media. A myth about gang members is that almost all are minorities, when in actuality, the National Youth Gang Survey indicate that the rates of gang membership are closely tied to the size of the city (Egley, Howell, & Major, 2004). Caucasians comprise 11 percent of gang membership in large cities and 30 percent in small or rural counties compared to the 10 percent of membership as portrayed by media (Esbensen &Tusinski, 2007). Not only do gang members come from a diverse background, the family make up is also diverse. Gang members come from a myriad of the family make up, they come from intact two-parent homes, single-parent homes, and recombined homes (Esbensen & Tusinski, 2007). Not all youth gang members come from urban or large cities, low-socio economic, or parents with low educational achievement (Klein, 1995; Esbensen &Tusinski, 2007). The reality is that gangs are present in rural and urban areas, rich or poor, they are not dissimilar to other people. However, public opinion is what propels gang ...