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Secretariat for Multidimensional Security Department of Public Security DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF GANGS DPS/SSM/OEA 1 Source: Google archive search. DPS/SSM/OEA 2 1999 2004 Cumberland 2547 259 Wake 30 1753 % Crime index Violent crime -89.8 +7.3 + 17.6% 5743.3 -32.4 -21.3 Justice Policy Institute Report July 2007 DPS/SSM/OEA 3 • In 1927 Chicago had 1,313 gangs(1) • Most of these were mixed (40%), Polish (16%), Italian (11%), Irish (9%), or AfroAmerican (7%), and there were even 7 Swedish gangs. • The link between gangs and organized crime was already under study. (1) F. Thrasher DPS/SSM/OEA 4 • In 2006, an ILO study on global youth employment trends found that 21% of young people (aged 16 to 29) in Latin America neither attended school nor worked. • That same study showed that the unemployment rate for young adults was 2.8. DPS/SSM/OEA 5 tensions • People feel insecure • Prevention • Investment in prevention • Lack of security, safety • Youth are more exposed • Police • No quick solutions • • • • Law enforcement Cost of Violence Democratic stability Fostered by environment • Justice system ( % of persons in pretrial detention) DPS/SSM/OEA 6 the project… • 7 consultants • 7 countries (1st stage) • Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, USA. DPS/SSM/OEA 7 How do the consultants view gangs? • • • • • • • • • • • Basically urban, A public security and safety issue Linked to adolescents and youth, although they are a minority in i.e. violent gangs or “maras” Arise from conditions of poverty and exclusion Linked to a lack of opportunities provided by the government, the market, and the community Originate among children or adolescents who come from dysfunctional families and are looking for an identity, protection, sense of belonging, and power, With a clear gender bias towards male domination, ranging from 2.5 - 1 to 9 - 1 Ethnically heterogeneous, but Latin Americans and Afro-descendents predominate over White Anglo-Saxons (in the case of the USA) Linked to many national homicides Linked increasingly to trafficking in drugs, arms, persons, and other crimes related to organized crime. DPS/SSM/OEA 8 DEFINITION “YOUTH GANGS represent a spontaneous effort by children and young people to create, where it does not exist, an urban space in society that is adapted to their needs, where they can exercise the rights that their families, government, and communities do not offer them. Arising out of extreme poverty, exclusion, and a lack of opportunities, gangs try to gain their rights and meet their needs by organizing themselves without supervision and developing their own rules, and by securing for themselves a territory and a set of symbols that gives meaning to their membership in the group. This endeavor to exercise their citizenship is, in many cases, a violation of their own and others’ rights, and frequently generates violence and crime in a vicious circle that perpetuates their original exclusion. This is why they cannot reverse the situation that they were born into. Since it is primarily a male phenomenon, female gang members suffer more intensively from gender discrimination and the inequalities inherent in the dominant culture.“ DPS/SSM/OEA 9 The path to adult gangs is determined by : - A gradual increase in the age of gang members within the gangs - The deportation of gang members - Alliances with gangs in other countries - Transnational adult gangs DPS/SSM/OEA 10 Categories Based on structural criteria such as size, gender, ethnic composition and ages, life span, territoriality, and criminality, as well as on criteria of origin, objectives, operating methods, and evolution, the following categories are proposed: • • • • • Scavenger gangs “Transgressor” gangs Violent gangs Criminal gangs Female gangs DPS/SSM/OEA 11 Size Gender Composition Age Territoriality Criminality Scavenger (short-lived) 15–40 Male, with reluctant acceptanc e of female members Heterogeneous 13-18 Secondary school and neighborhood Confrontations with other rival school gangs outside the schools and neighboring streets, extortion, intimidation, and other criminal acts, usually minor offenses, within and around their neighborhood and school. “Transgressor ” 40 –80 Male to female ratio: 5-1 Heterogeneous, with mostly Latin American and Afro-descendents (case of USA) 10-18 Neighborhood, since no longer in school Constant protection and violent defense against the rival gang. They use violence to impose control over the territory that they claim as theirs. They are involved in criminal activities within and outside their territory. Violent 100 – 500 Male to female ratio: up to 9-1 Homogenous (according to the gang). Primarily Hispanic. In USA, also AfroAmericans and Asians. 15-30 and over Neighborhoods dominated by cliques The same as the previous group, but with a greater tendency towards homicide. Criminal 50 – 200 Made up mostly of males Homogenous (according to the gang). Primarily Hispanic. In USA, also AfroAmericans and Asians. 18-30 and over Their activities are not limited to territories Various organized criminal activities using sophisticated weapons. Crimes include trafficking in drugs, persons, robbery, kidnapping, extortion, pandering, and murder. Origin Objectives Operation Activities Evolution Scavenger Rivalry among schools Not specified Leadership, with no organization or structure, crime is not part of their reason for being Sports, dances, movies. Independent of others, initial stage, may evolve into “transgressor” gangs “Transgressor” They arise in situations of exclusion, are organized without supervision, develop their own rules and membership criteria (RITES) To give meaning to a life without meaning They have standards, rules, a ranking, and initiation rites. They use drugs and carry arms Defense of their territory; they sometimes get involved in art and music, and may have a website. Secondary stage: they use the streets as a means of survival, they are led by members who grew up in them. Violent They arise in a similar context as the previous group, but are more advanced in committing crimes To give meaning to a life without meaning, and look into the possibility of profitable illegal activities Same as previous group but more complex and with connections with other gangs Virtually none Third stage: These are “transgressor” gangs that do not break up but consolidate, and they may use various names. Criminal Adult organization linked to ORGANIZED CRIME Money, reputation, and a power parallel to the power that excluded them Same as previous group, but with training, discipline, organization, and logistics in their criminal activities Virtually none Final stage: They are on a destructive path, they end up in prison or have a violent end. DPS/SSM/OEA 13 Gang members violate the rights of third parties at the same time that third parties violate the gang members’ rights DPS/SSM/OEA 14 EL “COURSE” OF VIOLENCE INTERVENTIONS ORGANIZED CRIME GANGS (JUVENILE) CLIQUES [“BARRAS”] JUVENILE GROUPS FAMILY – SOCIOECONOMIC SURROUNDING LAW (Concha-Eastman, 2001) LEVEL OF VIOLENCE OR CRIME HOMICIDES ROBBERIES (OF BANKS, ETC...) DRUG-TRAFFICKING ROBBERIES 2ary-3aryRAPES HOMICIDES 2ary. WOUNDS “MINOR” OFFENSES THEFTS FIGHTS: ASSAULTS PRIMARY PRIMARY DPS/SSM/OEA SOCIAL DISTURBANCE CONFLICTSVIOLENCE VICT./WITNESS 15 ORGANIZED CRIME CRIMINAL TENDENCY TOWARD VIOLENT CRIME VIOLENT PROTECTION AND DEFENSE AGAINST RIVAL GANGS, CONTROL OF TERRITORY, INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENT ACTIVITIES “TRANSGRESSOR” Confrontations in schools, intimidation, extortion, . etc. SCAVENGER DPS/SSM/OEA 16 INTERVENTIONS TO COUNTER GANGS GANGS – INTERVENTIONS – CRIMINALITY Criminal CONTROL CONTROLND Y SANCIÓN PENAL SANCTIONS PENAL ORGANIZED CRIME (TRAFFICKING IN DRUGS, ARMS, AND PERSONS, ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING, EXTORTION, PANDERING, AND MURDER) TERTIARY PREVENTION Violent REHABILITATION SAME AS “TRANSGRESSOR” GANGS, WITH A GREATER TENDENCY TOWARD HOMICIDE redress “Transgressor” Scavenger Family – depressed social and economic situation EARLY DETECTION AND REINSERTION PROMOTION OF RIGHTS AND VALUES, DELAYING ENTRY INTO GANGS, KEEPING STUDENTS IN SCHOOL PROTECTION AND DEFENSE AGAINST RIVAL GANGS, TERRITORIAL CONTROL, INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENT ACTIVITIES SECONDARY PREVENTION detect CONFRONTATION WITH OTHER SCHOOL GANGS, EXTORTION, INTIMIDATION, AND OTHER MINOR OFFENSES, WITHIN THEIR SCHOOLS AND IN THE AREA AROUND THEM PROMOTION OF SOCIAL CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT DPS/SSM/OEA NETWORKS OF FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS FAMILY AND SOCIAL VIOLENCE EMANATING FROM THE ENVIRONMENT PRIMARY PREVENTION prevent 17 INITIATIVES FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF GANGS, IT IS NECESSARY TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT TARGETED PUBLIC POLICIES, BASED ON: - UP-TO-DATE LEGISLATION -CITIZEN PARTICIPATION - INFORMATION SYSTEM - JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT ENSURES PROMPT AND FAIR JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS - LINK WITH PUBLIC POLICIES - A GUIDING INTERSECTORAL INSTITUTIONALITY ON THE SUBJECT - AN ETHICAL CONTEXT OF RESPECT FOR, AND GUARANTEE AND PROMOTION OF, HUMAN RIGHTS - MEASURES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE SOCIAL CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES DPS/SSM/OEA 18 What does a gang offer me…? What should we do…? • • • • • • • A space Protection Friendship Running risks Access to money Sex To be somebody • Try to cover these spaces • Invest heavily in youth • Streamline judicial processes • Separate the approach of adults and adolescents • Work with the media DPS/SSM/OEA 19 Scavenger gangs prevention rehabilitation control -Open school -Workshops -Self-management movements -Sports networks -The media (videos, CE) -Reinsertion and remedial courses in school -Workshops -Job training -Agreements with businesses - Encourage alternatives to deprival of freedom -Presence of specialized police -Specialized training for police officers in youth matters -Appropriate records -Formal education -Workshops -Job training -Agreements with businesses -Develop strategies for deportees --Encourage alternative measures -Workshops for judges, prosecutors, and police -Promote a balanced treatment of the subject by the media -Different categories should not be mixed among detainees -Workshops -Role of churches -Police intelligence -Workshops for judges, prosecutors, and police - Presence of specialized police officers - Create opportunities “Transgressor” gangs Violent gangs Criminal gangs - Self-management movements - Workshops -Evening and weekend activities -Develop public spaces with artificial light -Preventive police -Police intelligence -Campaigns -Special detention centers - Increased exchange of -Workshops information and -Little contact with the outside coordination among world countries DPS/SSM/OEA -Police intelligence -Workshops for judges, prosecutors, and police 20