Transcript Emerging Preppie Gangs

“The Emerging
Problem of Preppie
Gangs in America”
Dr. Gordon A. Crews
Department of Criminal Justice
Jacksonville State University
“Preppie Gangs”
Late 1980s, youths from affluent, upscale
communities started forming their own gangs
Numbers still aren’t great, but threat can be
Money, mobility, & education deadly
combination
Natural resistance to label groups as “gangs”
Stereotypical image that this only occurs in
economically depressed areas
Many times we don’t want to see (property
values, tax base, etc …)
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PREPPIE GANG
 Youth fitting the "preppie" definition
 From higher income, safer neighborhoods
 Generally considered of higher intelligence
 Less structure than most gangs
 Involved in border-line criminal activities, or
living on the edge
 "Rich white kids" with many options
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
“Preppie Gangs”
Research Has Found Three Traditional
Types:
Delinquent Gangs

Mimicking Other Street Gangs, Desire Profit
and Lifestyle
Ideological Gangs

Specific Ideology, or Belief System
Occultic Gangs

Occult or Other Belief System Connections
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
CHARACTERISTICS OF PREPPIE
GANGS
Demonstrated behaviors within the context of their
schools, homes, neighborhoods, and sub-culture:
 intimidation of peers and adults
 displaying arrogance
 seeking attention
 being different, cool
 being a part of a group
 imitating members of musical groups
 excitement; to keep from being bored
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
CHARACTERISTICS OF PREPPIE
GANGS
Demonstrated behaviors within the context of their
schools, homes, neighborhoods, and sub-culture:
 using technology to communicate
 employing their intellectual and creative
talents
 intimidation of peers and adults
 acquiring drugs and alcohol
 practicing an "alternative belief"
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PSYCHOLOGICAL
o
o
o
o
o
Revenge
Acquire attention
Acquire "respect"
Achieve immortality
Enhance ego, self-esteem
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PSYCHOLOGICAL
o Fulfill their fantasy
o Release tension and anger
o Outlet of intellectual and
creative talents
o Fill a "void" in their lives
o Intimidation of others
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
SOCIOLOGICAL
o Exert power over their lives and
manipulate others
o Being a part of a group
o Being part of a "cause"
o Defying/Challenging society's
traditional beliefs and expectations
of youth
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
ECONOMIC
o Need for more money
(in some instances)
o Link with groups/gangs to
secure drugs, contraband,
and other economic
interests
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PREPPIE GANG ACTIVITIES
Important concepts:
 very intelligent, not necessarily smart
 very deceptive and secretive
 access to money to finance
their activities
 activities, both criminal and social,
that are similar to traditional street
gangs
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PREPPIE GANG ACTIVITIES
 Intimidation of youth not in
their own sub-culture or group:




Minorities
“Inferiors“
Outsiders
Geeks, Nerds
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PREPPIE GANG ACTIVITIES
 Generating excitement or "living on the edge"
often taken to the extreme







intake of dangerous drugs
creating drug combinations
drive-by shootings for thrills
alternative sexual activities
combining Satanism, Vampirism
some form of Witchcraft
create their own particular cult or belief system
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PREPPIE GANG ACTIVITIES
Much emphasis on appropriate
dress and grooming
 style of haircut
 type of jewelry
 color combinations
 brand-names
 logos
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
PREPPIE GANG ACTIVITIES
Use of personal electronic
communication devices
 Computers
– to research various topics associated with their
beliefs
 Cell Phones, Pagers
– to communicate among group members
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
INTELLIGENT, CREATIVE, & CRAFTY
Preppies can be very intimidating and
frustrating to authorities because their
parents are often very influential
economically and politically, and have access
to the best lawyers to influence the political
and judicial process
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
ATTITUDE OF
PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Anger
Frustration
Embarrassment
Humiliation
Complete Denial
Clueless
Blame Themselves
Blame Peers
Blame Peers' Parents
Blame Authorities
VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
DANGERS OF PREPPIE GANGS
o drawn into a cult or deviant
group
o sexually transmitted diseases
o unwanted pregnancy
o ruined health
o family conflict
o financial drain on
family and/or society
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
DANGERS OF PREPPIE GANGS
o
o
o
o
o
o
unmotivated to improve self or life style
alcoholism
drug addiction
criminal record
jail and/or prison time
severe mental and emotional problems
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)
One of the biggest
problems we are seeing
is …
their negative impact
on other students!
ACJS 2001 ~ Washington, DC (Dr. Gordon A. Crews)