Topic: Problems with Prison Gangs

Abstract

The gang trend has matured and spread widely in most of America's cities and counties; and so has the spread of gang culture rapidly increased and flourishes in the prison's of the continent as well. It may be not possible to accumulate precise information on the number of America's prisoners who are occupied in gang activity. Nevertheless, evaluating from one's own observations and research on the particular topic it can be found that gangs and their relative members are rampant in several prisons in the United States. In the following paper we shall examine the problems with prison gangs and their recommended solutions that will help aiding in controlling their rapid dispersal over the continent.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Prison Gangs4

Problems faced by Prison Gangs4

Suggestions to Improve the Situation5

Conclusion8

References9

Problems with Prison Gangs

Introduction

Prison Gangs

In particular prisons, prisoner gang members were those members of gangs who knew each other earlier to their imprisonment. They were under arrest, enslaved and while in prison, continued to hire and build up their gang. The rest of the several gang members had no gang association preceding their incarceration but tied up with one of the prison gangs ; a number of them have correspondents on the streets.

Prison gangs interrupt correctional programming, while pressurizing the security of prisoners and staff members, and eroding prison's quality of life. A control strategy which includes isolation, lockdowns and relocation have been the common answer to address these prison gangs.  The first renowned American prison gang were the Gypsy Jokers who created their gang in the 1950s at the Washington state prisons.  The foremost prison gang with nationwide fame and coverage were the Mexican Mafia, which established in 1957. According to Knox and Tromanhauser there are approximately more than a 100,000 prison gang members today flourishing across the country. 

In prison, prisoners face prison politics, racial discrimination, bribery and the delinquency of officers. In prison lives of these gangs is much complicated and perilous than life outside prison. The main reason for which is that there is no place of safety until positive conditions come in view. One should always protect himself and keep an eye on what ever is happening around him when in prison (Shelley, 1995). Several gang members seek out friends who are already there to support them so it is not just the individual gang member who has to trench himself against any circumstances alone. Rather there is an entire group of individuals who clutch on to more influence and supremacy to cause destruction than one individual could do. 

In those prisons which are gang dominant, gangs rule the rest. When do certain prisoners eat and at what times do they eat. Where do they get seated in the dining hall? Who acquires the most amazing or worst errands in the prison? Who has wealth and good attire to wear, who is living there and who has passed away? Most of such things, and several others are focused on by gangs in the prison. Hence, their presence involves ...