People involved in gang activity are just that—people. Like all of us, they have families, hopes, dreams, motivations, disappointments, and sorrows. They have rights, just like other U.S. citizens, that need to be protected. They are likely to have had logical, rational reasons for becoming involved in a gang. They are more than the crime, or crimes, they have committed. They are not animals as some people have described them, but people.
To be able to prevent, intervene in, and suppress gang activity in our communities, we need to learn people's stories. What trauma did these individuals encounter in their lives? What protective factors were present to help them resist gang involvement? Protective factors, for example, include the existence of role models outside gang life, parents who were not gang members themselves, and family and community support. In other words, we need to learn their story.
This assignment will help you to see the personal side of gang life by taking an in-depth look at the story of someone who has been involved in it.
Preparation
Begin by downloading the Week 7 Assignment – Gang Life and Its Societal Impacts Worksheet Download Week 7 Assignment – Gang Life and Its Societal Impacts Worksheet.
Then, research and analyze the story of an individual who was involved in gang life and later got out. You may analyze the life story of someone you know, a character from a movie or book, or someone who has spoken out about their experiences leaving a gang.
Examples of individuals you could research are, but aren't limited to:
- Pearl Arredondo's story, My Story, From Gangland Daughter to Star Teacher
- Gerardo Lopez's story, I Was an MS-13 Gang Member. Here's How I Got Out
- John Jackson's story, How I Got Out of a Prison Gang
Instructions
Please fill in the boxes in the provided worksheet with the following:
- Describe the background and risk factors that led to the gang involvement of your chosen individual.
- Describe the reasons behind your chosen individual's delinquent behavior, considering how community and societal problems shaped their actions.
- Discuss protective factors and community support systems that were present in your chosen individual's life before they got involved with a gang.
- Discuss the personal strengths that enabled your chosen individual to overcome the influence of the gang and leave the group.
- Create a simple timeline that details the key events in your chosen individual's progression into and then out of gang involvement.
- Describe how your chosen individual left the gang and reintegrated into society, considering community support and rehabilitation.
- Reflect on potential actions and supports that could have prevented your chosen individual from joining a gang.
- Support your writing with at least three credible sources, cited in a Source List in SWS style.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:
- Research the societal impacts of gangs and organized crime.