Assignment 1: Gangs in America Today Law Essay Paper

Gangs in America
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Overview/ History of Gangs in America
The American society has been plagued by gang and gang-related activities for many years. Gangs strive under the belief that there is strength in numbers and as such, it is impossible to exactly pinpoint when the gang menace cropped into the US. Nonetheless, there is a belief that gangs were first witnessed during the period of industrialization which gave birth to urban centers. It is also believed that most people during that time formed or associated with gangs because of the rampant poverty levels. Through the gangs, they could steal and perpetrate illegal businesses and consequently amass wealth. There are reports that Chicago, New York and Los Angeles were and still are the epicenter of gangs and gang-related activities (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2020). During the industrialization period, individuals formed gangs in accordance to their European ethnicities. It was common to find gangs of Polish and Italian descent controlling cities in the US. However, it in the 20th century that gangs evolved and minority groups such as Blacks and Hispanics joined the bandwagon (Jeanty, 2007). It is also during the same period that gangs in the form of crime families cropped up with the Gambino family that controlled Chicago being a notable example.
How many Gangs are there in the United States?
It is estimated that at least one in every four Americans is a member or affiliated to a gang in the country. Law enforcement agencies such as the FBI have labelled gangs as organized crime because of their detailed and carefully planned-out involvements in criminal and illegal ventures within and outside the United States (Decker & Pyrooz, 2015). There are various types and forms of gangs in the US including prison, National Street and organized gangs and all are equally as dangerous. FBI reports indicate that are about 30 active gangs in the US that are terrorizing citizens in various ways such as through criminal and drug related activities (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2020). Gangs are formed quite easily and in most cases consist of a group of like-minded individuals with criminal and malicious intentions. There are gangs that are formed by close friends and family members and who not only harbor common goals but also have a defined leadership and order of accomplishing their objectives. It is common for gangs in America to take charge of certain territories and areas and have the people and business in the regions under their protection (Fleisher, 2017). It is also in such territories that gangs get to perpetrate the atrocious act freely and even under the noses of law enforcement. Gangs tend to grow in numbers over time through forceful or willing recruitment of members. In most cases, members willingly join gangs to get protection and avoid continuous harassment.
Which gangs are considered the most disturbing by the FBI and how did they come to that conclusion?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the law enforcement agency that is primarily tasked with investigating and tackling gangs in the US. The FBI in collaboration with other agencies have over the years been instrumental on overseeing the reduction of organized crime, drug dealings and violent crimes all of which are mostly perpetrated by gangs in America. It is in this regard that the FBI regularly details and notifies the public of the most notorious and dangerous gangs in the region. They come into this conclusion basing on the number of crimes and illegal dealings that are associated to a particular gang (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2020). They also identify the dangerous gangs in terms of how organized they are in that they can operate and handle their criminal activities or move their illegal products without leaving any trace for law enforcement officers to snoop around and eventually apprehend them. The FBI also identifies dangerous gangs in America by their resourcefulness and ease of acquiring military-grade ammunitions (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2020). These types of gangs are a threat to national security and are often dealt with the full arm of the law. Based on the above facts, the following are most disturbing gangs according to the FBI.
18th Street Gang: It is a well-known and revered gang in the US and which is associated with several criminal and illegal activities daily. The 18th street gang is based in California but operates undetected throughout the country. It has an ambitious and highly articulate leadership that is continuously keen on expanding its criminal activities to regions far and wi...