Gangs in Child Welfare

On Friday, I will be in a satellite and internet broadcast panel discussion hosted by the Tennessee Center for Child Welfare (TCCW). The panel will be addressing “Gangs in Child Welfare” on May 18, 2012. Available at the TCCW web site - http://video.tccw.org/video/gangs-child-welfare

•Overview and History of Gangs

•Carter Smith

•Ben Austin

•Meaning/Defining gangs

•Street gangs mentioned by Chaucer (1390) and Shakespeare (1602)

–little known of the members

•Generally accepted criteria for identifying groups as gangs:     

–Three or more members.    

–Members share group identity and other symbols.    

–Members view themselves as a gang, and they are recognized by others as a gang.   

–Permanence and organization.    

–Criminal activity.

•Gang Formation

•Individual needs

–physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem

•Individual responses

–To pressure/Strain

•Community needs

–Security/Economy

•Community responses

–Support/Conceal crime

–Hire/direct Law Enforcement

•Economic association

•Traditional gang organization not unlike traditional business organization

–Fills a void

–Serves community

–Depended upon

•Gangs engage in legitimate business activity.

–Startup funding from ill-gotten gains

–Often use legitimate business to launder money

–Nonetheless, gang businesses serve community