Gangs

From the Overview: "NIJ [National Institute of Justice] held a virtual meeting with researchers and practitioners to ensure that NIJ's investments in research on gangs and gang violence continue to close gaps in our knowledge on this topic. The goal of this meeting was twofold: first, to inform the development of evidence-based programs, policies, and practices to address problems associated with gangs and gang violence; and second, to advise NIJ on the use of robust research and evaluation methods to address problems associated with gangs and gang violence. The researchers and practitioners invited to the meeting had expertise in several areas, including gangs, program development and implementation, program evaluation and research design, firearms, violent crime, justice policy, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and corrections. [...] This report shares participants' perspectives on the topics discussed. The report may inform the priorities of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers as they make investments in studying or developing programs to address gangs and gang violence."

From the Document: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment. Other observers are more skeptical that the pandemic will have such effects. In reports issued in March and April 2021, the U.S. intelligence community provided assessments of the potential impact of the pandemic on the international security environment. Observers who discuss whether the pandemic will be world-changing for the international security environment have focused on several areas of potential change[.]"

From the Document: "Establishes DoD policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for handling protest, extremist, and criminal gang activities by members of the Armed Forces. [...] This Instruction applies to OSD [United States Office of the Secretary of Defense], the Military Departments (including the Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the 'DoD Components')."

"Can counter insurgency strategies be used to fight urban gangs? This question was discussed in a conversation between the Mayor of Salinas, the Provost of the Naval Postgraduate School and Representative Sam Farr. It became apparent during that discussion that there were many similarities between insurgent behavior and gang behavior--similarities that would make a more rigorous analysis worthwhile. These similarities are readily apparent when reading General Petraeus's counterinsurgency guidance for U.S. and NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] forces in Afghanistan.... In his list of twenty-four 'rules,' many of them resonate, but especially the following: secure and serve the population; live among the people; help confront the culture of impunity; hold what we secure; foster lasting solutions; consult and build relationships, but not just with those who seek us out; walk; act as one team; be first with the truth; fight the information war aggressively; manage expectations; and live our values. Ultimately, these guidelines intend to reach the same end state as urban policing does: a safe and secure population. With this theme in mind, the faculty of the Defense Analysis Department at the Naval Postgraduate School, experts in counterinsurgency operations, were enlisted to address these similarities and to share their theories, models, and ideas from their own disciplines of political science, sociology, anthropology, international relations, and more."

"The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its main rival, the "18th Street" gang, continue to undermine citizen security and subvert government authority in parts of Central America. Gang-related violence has been particularly acute in El Salvador, Honduras, and urban areas in Guatemala, contributing to some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Congress has maintained an interest in the effects of gang-related crime and violence on governance, citizen security, and investment in Central America. Congress has examined the role that gang-related violence has played in fueling mixed migration flows, which have included asylum seekers, by families and unaccompanied alien children (UAC) to the United States. Since FY2008, Congress has appropriated funding for anti-gang efforts in Central America. Central American governments have struggled to address the gang problem. […]This report describes the gang problem in Central America, discusses country approaches to deal with the gangs, and analyzes U.S. policy with respect to gangs in Central America. Congressional oversight may focus on the efficacy of anti-gang efforts in Central America; the interaction between U.S. domestic and international anti-gang policies, and the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on law-enforcement efforts."

From the Impact to Schools: "Gang affiliation is not something that students leave behind when they come to school. Gang members do not leave their behaviors, attitudes, and conflicts outside the school environment. Gangs, unchecked and unidentified in a school setting, often engage in threat and intimidation; physical and cyber bullying; fighting; recruiting; and criminal activities such as the introduction and use of weapons, assault, sex trafficking, vandalism, and illegal drug sales. The absence of a well-developed, strategic, collaborative, and effective school safety plan can lead to violence and other unsafe and disruptive activities within a school setting."

From the Document: "Retailers and retail industry advocacy groups have expressed concern [hyperlink] about what they see as a general increase in retail crime, and more specifically an increase in organized retail crime (ORC) [hyperlink]. Reports of criminal groups, acting in 'flash mobs' [hyperlink], storming stores and at times assaulting employees, have underscored these concerns. Some retail organizations have cited certain elements of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic as possibly contributing to this apparent increase in ORC and have urged [hyperlink] policymakers and law enforcement to take steps to educate the public and crack down on ORC. Some law enforcement agencies have increased [hyperlink] resources and information sharing to counter these crimes."

This bibliography, compiled by Greta E. Marlatt at the Naval Postgraduate School, contains a list of resources related to Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG). Resources include books, reports, and articles. The list is organized alphabetically by resource type and links are provided when available. This list was created in May of 2015 and will be updated periodically. It was last updated in October 2021.

"Strategies to Address Gang Crime: A Guidebook for Local Law Enforcement provides information about developing and enhancing local law enforcement responses to gangs in their jurisdictions. The focus of the guidebook is on the use of problem-solving strategies to help agencies select the interventions most appropriate for their jurisdictions. In particular, the guidebook describes the SARA model (Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment), a strategic problem-solving process that local law enforcement can apply to its local gang problem. Growing evidence (Dalton, 2004) shows that applying the SARA model will greatly improve the law enforcement response to gangs and will lead to safer communities. National surveys of law enforcement agencies provide the most widely accepted assessment of the magnitude of the United States gang problem. Unfortunately, not many such surveys existed prior to 1970. The two states with the largest gang population in 1970 (California and Illinois) retained their position in 1998, and were joined by Texas, Florida, and Ohio. This finding of dispersion of gang problems among the states is an important theme in characterizing the changes in gangs over time. Such changes were reflected in the region of gang location, because gangs were located primarily in the West in the early 1970s, with very few gangs in the South. By 1998, the South ranked second among the four regions, and had recorded a 33 percent increase in the number of gangs. A concomitant change occurred in the presence of gangs by city size."

This is a compilation of "Border Security" hearings, including the March 1, 2017 on "The Effects of Border Insecurity and Lax Immigration Enforcement on American Communities," the April 5, 2017 on "Improved Border Security and Public Safety," and the May 24, 2017 on "Border Insecurity: The Rise of MS-13 and Other Transnational Criminal Organizations," held before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Ron Johnson: "To me, the role of the Federal Government--the top priority is the defense of this Nation--defense of this homeland, the security of its borders and the security of its citizens. And, that is really all this hearing is about--is to lay out a reality through some powerful examples. And, again, we have Julie here. We have Sheriff Eric Severson from Waukesha County, Wisconsin, who will be laying out and talking about the problem of drug abuse, because our borders are so porous. In the 1980s, heroin cost $3,200 per gram. Deputy Rectenwald, we were talking yesterday. You think it is about $80 a gram. Ten doses per gram--that is $8 for a hit of heroin. It is a very affordable, destructive habit. And, that is because our borders are so porous. So, there is a lot of destruction occurring. We have a sheriff and a deputy sheriff here, describing those things. And, of course, Deputy Sheriff Rectenwald will be talking about another tragedy--another young mom, Jill Sundberg, who was murdered by five individuals--criminals that were in this country illegally. Again, we are going to allow these powerful stories to be told, so we understand the consequences of not enforcing our immigration laws and securing our borders." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: (March 1, 2017) Julie Nordman, Eric J. Severson, and Ryan Rectenwald; (April 5, 2017) John F. Kelly; (May 24, 2017) Timothy D. Sini, Scott M. Conley, and J. Thomas Manger.

This is the July 28, 2021 hearing on "DHS's Efforts to Disrupt Transnational Criminal Organizations in Central America," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Lou Correa: "Over the last few months, this subcommittee has had the opportunity to look closely at some of the factors that push people from Central America and Mexico to leave their homes and travel to the United States border. We have heard about crippling effects of the recent natural disasters, wide-spread poverty, COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], as well as the pervasive presence of corruption which stifles progress, economic progress, and maintains inequality. Today, I look forward to diving more deeply into some of these issues the Department of Homeland Security is working on to combat both abroad and at home, primarily violence and instability caused by transnational criminal organizations." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Francis J. Russo and John A. Condon.

From the opening statement of Mark L. Pryor: "Today, this Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs will discuss methods drug gangs are using to penetrate the Southwest border in an effort to traffic drugs and people into the United States. […] The fight to secure the United States borders is a constant concern for the people living in the border States as well as the government officials who represent them. There are few threats as deadly and menacing as those posed by drug gangs, particularly Mexican drug gangs, operating near the border. Many Americans, and likewise, many lawmakers, may be inclined to believe that this problem is for the border States only and for the border States to solve, yet there can be no doubt that this is a problem for all Americans, North to South, Coast to Coast. An estimated 230 American cities, including three cities in Arkansas, have a presence of the Mexican drug cartels in their communities. We must do everything we can to disrupt their networks and to prevent them from moving product onto American soil. […] The efforts of drug gangs to smuggle people and goods range from the truly bizarre to the truly extraordinary." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark L. Pryor, John Ensign, Donna Bucella, James A. Dinkins, Thomas M. Harrigan, Frances Flener, and L. Kent Bitsko.

"The influence of New York area (New York City and northern New Jersey) drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and gangs reaches nearly every sizable drug market in eastern Pennsylvania. a Dominican DTOs and gangs are the most active of these groups, and their influence within the region is increasing except in select drug markets where Mexican DTOs are dominant and growing. [...] The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) assesses with high confidence that the influence of Mexican DTOs will increase in eastern Pennsylvania drug markets, spurred by the ability of these groups to supply the markets with cocaine shipments directly from the Southwest Border area and supported by growing Mexican populations in the region, which they use as cover to mask their operations. Furthermore, NDIC assesses with moderate confidence that incidents of drug-related violence against law enforcement officers will increase, as evidenced by rising levels of aggression by some gang members. NDIC assesses with high confidence that heroin use will increase in the near term as high availability and low prices encourage an increasing prescription opioid abuser population to transition to heroin. Finally, NDIC assesses with high confidence that members affiliated with New York area gangs will move farther into Pennsylvania drug markets--including those in central and western Pennsylvania--where drug prices are higher and where smaller communities often lack the law enforcement strength to deter highly organized drug distribution groups."

"Using automated databases and working with a variety of entities, the National Gang Center identifies gang-related legislation. This information is updated as new legislation and existing legislation are identified."

"The goal of the G.R.E.A.T. Program is to help youth develop positive life skills that will help them avoid gang involvement and violent behavior. G.R.E.A.T. uses a communitywide approach to combat the risk factors associated with youth involvement in gang-related behaviors. The curricula were developed through the collaborative efforts of experienced law enforcement officers and specialists in criminology, sociology, psychology, education, health, and curriculum design and are designed to reinforce each other."

This is the official site for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's National Gang Center. "This Web site features the latest research about gangs; descriptions of evidence-based, anti-gang programs; and links to tools, databases, and other resources to assist in developing and implementing effective community-based gang prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies. Here you will find an analysis of the findings from nearly 15 years of data collected by the annual National Youth Gang Survey of 2,500 U.S. law enforcement agencies. Visitors can read and download publications related to street gangs. An online form allows communities to request training and technical assistance as they plan and implement anti-gang strategies. Users can register for a variety of anti-gang training courses. The Web site also hosts a database of gang-related state legislation and municipal codes; a list of newspaper articles on nationwide gang activity that is updated daily; and GANGINFO, an electronic mailing list for professionals working with gangs." The site index may be found at: http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Site-Index

This is the official website of the United States Department of Justice's 'Project Safe Neighborhoods'. "Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Since its inception in 2001, approximately $2 billion has been committed to this initiative. This funding is being used to hire new federal and state prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun lock safety kits, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun and gang violence reduction strategies. The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative was launched in 2001, and built upon the foundations of previously-existing gun crime reduction efforts such as the Clinton-era Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI), Richmond's Project Exile, and the Boston Ceasefire program. By studying these and other efforts, the Department determined that successful gun crime reduction initiatives had three common elements: they were comprehensive, coordinated and community-based."