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• Rico: Analyzing the Use of Federal Law to Combat Local Gang Problems

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  From the Thesis Abstract: "Gangs are the main contributor to violent crime in the United States. In an attempt to combat such violent crime, the federal government has begun prosecuting street-level gangs with the federal racketeering (RICO) statutes. Although these statutes were developed to address more traditional white-collar crime, the criminalizing of ongoing racketeering activity in a criminal enterprise has successfully been used to prosecute street-level gangs. This thesis provides a review of the scholarly literature on the topic, most of which is biased and averse to the RICO statutes' use in this context. This thesis also evaluates criticisms and concerns on the topic. Federal laws and procedures were analyzed during a comparative analysis of different court systems, which revealed a distinct advantage for federal courts in the investigation and prosecution of violent street gangs. Additionally, the use of the federal racketeering statutes by three different jurisdictions--New York, New York; Detroit, Michigan; and Montebello, California--was researched and analyzed. The research found that use of the RICO statutes facilitated law enforcement initiatives that reduced violent crime and homicides in all three jurisdictions."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Ryerson, Gene W.

  2019-12
• 'Gang of Four' Congressional Intelligence Notifications [July 14, 2009]

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  "'Gang of Four' intelligence notifications generally are oral briefings of certain particularly sensitive non-covert action intelligence activities, including principally, but not exclusively, intelligence collection programs, that the Intelligence Community typically limits to the chairmen and ranking members of the two congressional intelligence committees, and at times, but not always, to their respective staff directors. [...]. Congress has said that its intent in this regard is that in extremely rare circumstances a need to preserve essential secrecy may result in a decision not to impart certain sensitive aspects of operations or collection programs to the intelligence oversight committees in order to protect extremely sensitive intelligence sources and methods. With regard to the phrase 'other exceptionally sensitive matters,' Congress has said its intent in using this phrase is to refer to other extremely sensitive categories of classified information such as information concerning the operational details of military deployment and extraordinarily sensitive diplomatic contacts, which the intelligence committees do not routinely require to satisfy their responsibilities. This report reviews the history of Gang of Four notification process and compares this procedure with that of the 'Gang of Eight' notification procedure. The 'Gang of Eight' procedure is statutorily based and provides that that the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the intelligence committee, along with the Speaker and minority leader of the House, and Senate majority and minority leaders--rather than the full membership of the intelligence committees--are to receive prior notice of particularly sensitive covert action programs, if the President determines that limited access to such programs is essential to meet extraordinary circumstances affecting vital U.S. interests."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cumming, Alfred

  2009-07-14
• Exploring Drug Gangs' Ever-Evolving Tactics to Penetrate the Border and the Federal Government's Ability to Stop Them, Hearing Before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, March 31, 2011

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  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.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Live Fast, Die Young: Anticipated Early Death and Adolescent Violence and Gang Involvement

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  "Strategies employed by criminal justice agencies to reduce offending often focus on deterrence, with policies relying on the threat of punishment to discourage individuals from crime. However, such strategies will fail if individuals do not fear these consequences, or when potential rewards of offending outweigh the risks. According to life history theory, adolescents with a dangerous or unpredictable childhood environment discount the future and engage in risky behaviors because they have little to lose. Many adolescents embody this 'live fast, die young' mentality, particularly those already at risk of delinquency due to other factors. The scientific literature refers to this mindset as fatalism, future discounting, or anticipated early death (AED). Despite the indication that AED is a crucial correlate of delinquent activity, only recently have criminologists begun to directly examine the relationship. To address this gap in the literature, this dissertation analyzes two longitudinal datasets. One dataset, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), offers a nationally representative sample, while the Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS) provides a sample of at-risk youth in Rochester, New York. Structural equation modeling quantifies adolescent AED in each dataset. [...] I study the effects of the latent AED measures on adolescent violence and gang activity, finding that higher levels of AED correspond to a greater likelihood of violence and gang activity, with the relationships often mediated by low self-control. [...] Findings lend support to life history theory's assumption that AED predicts risk-taking behavior; I find little evidence that violence or gang activity cause AED."

  National Criminal Justice Reference Service (U.S.)

  Carlock, Arna L.

  2016
• MS-13 Problem: Investigating Gang Membership, Its Nexus to Illegal Immigration, and Federal Efforts to End the Threat, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, June 21, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the June 21, 2017 hearing on "The MS-13 Problem: Investigating Gang Membership, Its Nexus to Illegal Immigration, and Federal Efforts to End the Threat," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "The topic of today's hearing involves the MS-13 crisis that's growing and spreading in communities across our nation. The atrocities of these criminals are not new. This group has existed since the 1980s, and has made a reputation for itself as a perpetrator of extreme-and often gruesome-violence. This organization has been dubbed the world's "most dangerous gang," and some say it could be a terrorist organization. But, you wouldn't expect anything less from a group whose motto is 'kill, rape, and control.' Unfortunately, over the past two years, this terrifying motto has become a vicious reality for many communities across our nation. So far this year, the gang has been publicly linked to dozens of high-profile killings, rapes, and assaults across the country, from the Washington D.C. metro area to Houston, Texas. Undoubtedly, there are many more that simply haven't been reported." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carla Provost, Scott Lloyd, Derek Benner, Matthew Albence, and Kenneth Blanco.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-06-21
• Asylum and Related Protections for Aliens Who Fear Gang and Domestic Violence [October 25, 2018]

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  "Over the past year, non-U.S. nationals (aliens) from Central America (primarily Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala) have comprised an increasingly larger share of asylum applicants in the United States. And more recently, a 'caravan' of thousands of individuals from Honduras has been traveling north across the Guatemala-Mexico border, with many reportedly seeking to escape widespread gang and domestic violence in Honduras. Previously, federal courts and immigration authorities have considered when such circumstances may raise a viable claim for asylum or other forms of relief from removal. In June 2018, Attorney General (AG) Jeff Sessions ruled in 'Matter of A-B-' that aliens who fear gang or domestic violence in their home countries generally do not qualify for asylum based on those grounds -- a ruling that is binding upon immigration authorities within both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The decision may foreclose some claims of relief by asylum seekers, and subject more aliens apprehended along the border to expedited removal in lieu of the more formalized removal process available to aliens whose asylum claims are deemed sufficiently credible to warrant further review. This Legal Sidebar examines asylum claims based on gang and domestic violence, the AG's decision in Matter of A-B-, and recent guidance from DHS's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in light of that ruling."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Hillel R.

  2018-10-25
• Addressing Community Gang Problems: A Model for Problem Solving

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  "The Comprehensive Gang Initiative model provides a method for overcoming the barriers faced by agencies and groups attempting to address gang-related problems. It is a dynamic, ongoing process that provides guidance in examining a problem and finding out what factors allow the problem to persist. Answering the questions raised by the model is essential in selecting an appropriate response to gang-related problems in communities."

  United States. Bureau of Justice Assistance

  Police Executive Research Forum

  1999-08
• Mobilizing Communities to Address Gang Problems

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  "A proven, effective set of prescribed steps for mobilizing communities to address gang problems does not exist. This review of the literature on community-mobilization initiatives was undertaken to identify potentially effective steps, with the aim of laying the groundwork for pilot-testing them. The review begins with a discussion of definitions pertaining to community mobilization, followed by an examination of the history of initiatives that have addressed gang problems. This is followed by a review of research on community-mobilization implementation in five gang program demonstration sites. This report concludes with suggested key elements of successful community mobilization."

  National Youth Gang Center (U.S.)

  Howell, James C.; Curry, G. David

  2009-01
• Alien Gang Removal Act of 2005, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session on H.R. 2933, June 28, 2005

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  From the opening statement of John Conyers Jr.: "This is an important hearing because it's an opportunity for the concern we have about terrorist gangs to have a full hearing along with the restraints and concern that we have about the automatic deportation of individuals on the basis of association. We all agree, Mr. Chairman, that violent immigrants who commit crimes should be deported, and particularly we agree that those who associate with violent gangs, now who are springing up in many of our southern regions and particularly on the border, should be in line for deportation, those who perpetrate violent acts and those who may be associated with gangs that ultimately may be engaged in terrorist acts. But I think there is a clear demarcation, and that is that sheer membership, sheer association should not equate to deportation."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2005
• Serial No. 110-121: Gang Crime Prevention and the Need to Foster Innovative Solutions at the Federal Level, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, October 2, 2007

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  This is the October 2, 2007 hearing on "Gang Crime Prevention and the Need to Foster Innovative Solutions at the Federal Level," held before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Robert C. Scott: "Good afternoon. I am pleased to open the hearing today on what is effective in preventing gang crime and what is not. In working on crime issues over the years, I have learned that when it comes to crime policy, you have a choice. You can reduce crime, or you can play politics. The politics of crime calls for so-called tough on crime approaches such as more death penalties, more life without parole, a mandatory minimum, treating more juveniles as adults, or gang members, even cutting out cable television in the prisons. However, we can now show of our research and evidence that, while these approaches sound good, they have done nothing to prevent crime. Under the get tough approach no matter how tough you got last year, you have to get tougher this year. And we have been getting tougher and tougher year after year for over 25 years now. Since 1980 we have gone from around 200,000 persons incarcerated in the United States to over 2 million, with annual prison costs increasing year after year." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert C. Scott, J. Randy Forbes, Adam B. Schiff, Elijah E. Cummings, Joe Baca, Nicholas V. Lampson, Jerry McNerney, Charles W. Dent, David G. Reichert, Brian W. Walsh, Jerrauld C. Jones, Richard Roper, Paul L. Seave, Kevin Pranis, and Peter Scharf.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 456: Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007

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  "S. 456 would authorize the appropriation of $849 million over the 2008-2012 period, nearly $170 million annually, for Department of Justice (DOJ) programs to investigate and prosecute criminal street gangs and to prevent gang activity. In addition, CBO estimates that the bill would authorize the appropriation of about $550 million over the 2008-2012 period for programs to protect witnesses of crimes and for other crime-prevention activities. The bill also would establish new federal offenses and increase penalties for criminal activities committed by street gangs. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 456 would cost $1.1 billion over the 2008-2012 period. The bill could affect direct spending and revenues, but CBO estimates that any such effects would not be significant."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2007-07-02
• ICE Arrests 375 Gang Members and Associates in Two-Week Enforcement Action [March 10, 2006]

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  This press release announces that during a two-week enforcement action, federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 375 gang members and associates in 23 states in a joint effort with law enforcement agencies nationwide. The arrests are the latest under the auspices of "Operation Community Shield," a comprehensive initiative launched by ICE roughly one year ago to disrupt and dismantle transnational, violent street gangs. Operation Community Shield represents the first time the federal government has used immigration and customs authorities in a combined, national campaign against criminal street gangs in the United States.

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2006-03-10
• Street Outreach and Law Enforcement Collaboration: Prioritizing Safety when Working with Gang Members [webinar]

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  "This webinar will outline how best to conduct street outreach when gang-involved clients are in danger. The webinar will highlight the work of the National Gang Center (www.nationalgangcenter.gov) and Houston Mayor's Anti-Gang Office. The presenters will discuss the importance of building collaborative relationships and communication protocols among outreach staff, police, schools, and justice systems to develop crisis response and safety plans, including plans to address client, outreach worker and public safety violent retaliatory situations."

  National Gang Center (U.S.); United States. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

  2016-03
• Serial No. 115-20: Combating Gang Violence on Long Island: Shutting Down the MS-13 Pipeline, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, June 20, 2017

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  This is the June 20, 2017 field hearing on "Combating Gang violence on Long Island: Shutting Down the MS-13 Pipeline," held before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Peter T. King: "[..] MS-13 is a morally depraved, transnational murderous gang which terrorizes innocent people. The acts of violence connected to transnational gangs, specifically MS-13, have drastically and dramatically increased in Suffolk and Nassau County over the past several years. Just in the last more than a year, there have been 17 murders in Suffolk County alone committed by MS-13, and this is something which cannot be allowed to continue. It is essential we have a full-scale National, State, and local effort to destroy and end the terrorism, the tyranny of MS-13. They in many ways have turned immigrant communities into a killing field, and it is primarily within the immigrant community that these vicious machete killings, brutal murders have been carried out, and these are good people who are often unheard and not listened to. [...] So it is essential that the word get out that it is important that there be cooperation with law enforcement because the bottom line is that the police and the FBI and Homeland Security can only do so much. The real information is going to come from people on the ground, and that is why it is vital that we establish that trust, that relationship, and that people in the community, leaders in the community encourage the people in the community to cooperate." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: William Sweeney, Jr., Angel M. Melendez, Timothy D. Sini, Vincent F. DeMarco, Thomas C. Krumpter, Michael Marino, Robert Mickens, Evelyn Rodriguez, Howard M. Koenig, and Patrick Young, Esq.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• 'Designing Out' Gang Homicides and Street Assaults

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  "The hottest spot for gang-on-gang homicide and assault in the city of Los Angeles had seen gang violence becoming a cycle of attacks followed by reprisals, followed by the inevitable counterattacks. Using a deceptively simple tactic, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) intervened in an attempt to restore order to the area. Under the direction of then Assistant Chief of Operations Robert Vernon, an experiment involving the use of traffic barriers to block access by automobiles was launched in 1990 as a means to 'design out' crime by reducing the opportunities to commit it."

  National Institute of Justice (U.S.)

  Lasley, James

  1998-11
• Youth Gang Bibliography

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  This document represents a compilation of gang-related resources available. Published by the National Youth Gang Center in 2008, publications listed include books, papers, fact sheets, and other reputable resources covering several decades of gang activity.

  National Youth Gang Center (U.S.)

  Howell, James C.

  2008-07
• Why Youth Join Gangs [transcript]

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  This document is the narration text (transcript) of the National Gang Center video, "Why Youth Join Gangs." The text is divided into eight sections: "Introduction to Pushes and Pulls"; "Individual Risk Factors"; "Family Risk Factors"; "School Risk Factors"; "Peer Risk Factors"; "Community Risk Factors"; "How Pushes and Pulls Affect the Decision to Join a Gang"; and "Conclusion." The corresponding video can be found in the following HSDL record: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=753582]

  National Gang Center (U.S.)

  2014?
• John S. Pistole, Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation Speech at the 2nd Los Angeles IACP Summit on Transnational Gangs, Los Angeles, CA, March 3, 2008

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  "Good afternoon, it's great to be here with you. We in the FBI are glad to be working with so many different partners toward a common goal---from Chief Bratton and Sheriff Baca here in Los Angeles to our friends who have traveled here from other cities and nations. We deeply appreciate your commitment to combating gang violence, and we deeply appreciate your friendship. All of you in this room already have a solid working knowledge of gangs. Unfortunately, this comes from fighting them in your own cities. And so today, I want to give you a quick overview of the national gang problem from the FBI's perspective, and talk about what we are doing together to combat it."

  United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation

  Pistole, John S.

  2008-03-03
• Highlights of the 2010 National Youth Gang Survey

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  "Nationally, violent crime and property crime rates have declined dramatically over the past decade. An enduring concern for many jurisdictions, however, is the continued presence of gangs and gang activity, which are often associated with violence and serious crimes. Despite the overall decline in crime, gang violence continues at high levels in some cities."

  United States. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

  Egley, Arlen; Howell, James C.

  2012-04
• Implementing a Prison Gang Intelligence Unit Within the El Paso County Detention Facility

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  "The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the need for establishing a prison gang intelligence unit within the El Paso County Sheriffs Department. In 1994, the El Paso County Detention Facility recorded three jail homicides that were directly linked to prison gangs. According to the National Institute of Corrections and the United States Department of Justice, 'Prison gangs perpetuate criminal activity, threaten violence and total disruption of an institution' (October 1991)."

  Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas

  Chariez, Joe

  1996-07
• Gangs and Transnational Criminals Threaten Central American Stability

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  From the thesis abstract: "The recent expansion of gangs and transnational crime poses a significant threat to Central American stability. Central American nations generally lack the infrastructure to capture and prosecute these gang members; therefore, they continue to breed instability within the region and have exported their criminal activity in remarkable fashion. This Central American instability negatively impacts U.S. national security interests abroad and is detrimental to U.S. domestic security. This paper will explore and research the depth of this problem and its impacts on U.S. national security. It will also provide critical analysis and recommend courses of action for U.S. policy options, to include a key element for success: regional cooperation to interdict the expansion of Central American gangs and transnational criminal organizations in concert with our Central American neighbors."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Gray, Howard L.

  2009-03-10
• National Gang Center Newsletter [Summer 2016]

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  "This edition of the "National Gang Center Newsletter" contains the following articles: "Gang Tattoos"; "Partnerships for Success: A Synergy Between Businesses and Youth Job-Training Programs"; "Webinar-Street Outreach and Law Enforcement Collaboration: Prioritizing Safety When Working With Gang Members "; " A Plan for Program Sustainability "; and the "What's New" section.

  National Gang Center (U.S.); United States. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; United States. Bureau of Justice Assistance

  2016
• Can Counter-Gang Models Be Applied to Counter ISIS's Internet Recruitment Campaign

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  "In 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) came to the attention of the world community due to its rapid takeover of territory in Iraq and Syria. Since then, ISIS has executed an Internet-based recruitment campaign directed at vulnerable populations worldwide, to include the United States, in order to recruit followers and encourage attacks within their homelands. Through utilization of American-based social media companies, ISIS has been able to reach its target audience in a manner that has frustrated U.S. counter-efforts due to the enormous size of the social media environment. Through an analysis of influencing and recruitment operations, a linkage is shown between vulnerable populations susceptible to gang and terrorist recruitment. Analysis of the gang and terrorist mitigation models used against these groups draws key distinctions between intervention and deterrence-based models. Selection of specific case study applications of the models facilitates answering the primary research question: can models utilized against gangs in the United States be applied to counter ISIS's Internet recruitment campaign? The conclusion is that a modified deterrence-based model can be applied to counter ISIS's Internet recruitment campaign. However, the model should be applied against the technology companies providing the communication medium for ISIS's messaging."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

  Hinz, Scott M.

  2016-06-10
• Gangs in El Salvador

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  "The violence generated by gangs in El Salvador has become a serious threat to national and regional security. Nowadays, the gang problem has become almost uncontrollable for the security authorities of the country, which adversely affects the civil society and economic development. Gang criminal activity includes drug trafficking, racketeering, trafficking in persons, violence, terrorism and extortion. They use various techniques to raise money and recruit new young members. Due to the increase in violence in recent years, it has been necessary to employ force by both the National Civil Police and the Armed Forces. However, the policies employed have mostly been oriented to repression and very little to reinsertion. The strategies designed by the government have failed due to the lack of support from other public and private institutions."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Medina, Luis W.

  2013-03
• Stemming the Growth: Exploring the Risk Factors in Group Membership in Domestic Street Gangs and Foreign Terrorist Organizations

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  From the thesis abstract: "Despite law enforcement's best efforts, terrorist groups are expanding at alarming rates. One of the easiest ways to prevent terrorist attacks is to prevent individuals from joining terrorist organizations. Counter-terrorism programs that effectively reduce membership, reduce association and increase desistance to terror groups will undoubtedly reduce terror incidents. This research identifies risk factors that greatly influence an individual's decision to join a terrorist group; policy makers can use this information to design new policies aimed at prevention and intervention. If the U.S. government is looking for community-oriented solutions to criminal groups, it need look no further than the study of domestic street gangs. There is vast research into theories, strategies and programs that policy makers can reference. Because these models already exist for street gangs, the government need not waste time developing new strategies from scratch. This research discovered the group dynamic and processes that exist for street gangs exits similarly for terrorist organizations. It is the hope that this research lends new direction to the developing policies and de-radicalization strategies that are currently underway."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Dooley, Daniel A.

  2015-09
• Measuring Performance Within Anti-Gang Task Forces in Texas

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  From the thesis abstract: "The purpose of this research is to examine how the six Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) task forces measure performance and other goal-setting mechanisms to counter the threat posed by gangs and determine ways measures and mechanisms can be improved. Using research from journals, U.S. government reports, and open sources, this thesis uses a policy analysis to examine TAG documents, policies, and processes and compare these with benefits and challenges from other gang task forces. The thesis identifies models and frameworks used by law enforcement and the business sector to measure performance in the TAGs. Thesis findings include a proposal to use a logic model and the objectives and key results framework for setting goals and measuring performance. The implementation of this recommendation should yield a TAG structure with quantifiable and reliable metrics of success that optimize the capabilities and resources of all participants."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Jamison, Laura E.

  2018-12
• Asylum Eligibility for Applicants Fleeing Gang and Domestic Violence: Recent Developments [Updated August 6, 2021]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Non-U.S. nationals (aliens, as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [hyperlink]) from Central America have increasingly pursued asylum and related protections in the United States because of gang and domestic violence [hyperlink] in their home countries. To qualify for protection, applicants typically must establish that the gang or domestic violence amounts to persecution because of one of five enumerated grounds, including membership in a 'particular social group.' In 'Matter of A-B-' [hyperlink] and 'Matter of L-E-A-' [hyperlink], former Attorneys General Jeff Sessions and William Barr issued rulings that made it more difficult for applicants to satisfy this requirement. Those rulings were binding upon immigration authorities [hyperlink] within both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In February 2021, President Biden directed [hyperlink] the Attorney General (AG) and the Secretary of Homeland Security to review the availability of asylum for applicants fleeing gang or domestic violence, and to issue joint regulations that clarify the meaning of a 'particular social group.' In June 2021, AG Merrick Garland vacated the prior rulings [hyperlink] in 'Matter of A-B-' and 'Matter of L-E-A-' pending issuance of these regulations. This Legal Sidebar examines the AG decisions addressing the availability of asylum for applicants fearing nongovernmental persecution based on their membership in a particular social group, President Biden's executive order, and legislative options for Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Hillel R.

  2021-08-06
• Asylum Eligibility for Applicants Fleeing Gang and Domestic Violence: Recent Developments [July 1, 2021]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Non-U.S. nationals (aliens, as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [hyperlink]) from Central America have increasingly pursued asylum and related protections in the United States because of gang and domestic violence [hyperlink] in their home countries. To qualify for protection, applicants typically must establish that the gang or domestic violence amounts to persecution because of one of five enumerated grounds, including membership in a 'particular social group.' In 'Matter of A-B-' [hyperlink] and 'Matter of L-E-A-' [hyperlink], former Attorneys General Jeff Sessions and William Barr issued rulings that made it more difficult for applicants to satisfy this requirement. Those rulings were binding upon immigration authorities [hyperlink] within both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In February 2021, President Biden directed [hyperlink] the Attorney General (AG) and the Secretary of Homeland Security to review the availability of asylum for applicants fleeing gang or domestic violence, and to issue joint regulations that clarify the meaning of a 'particular social group.' In June 2021, AG Merrick Garland vacated the prior rulings [hyperlink] in 'Matter of A-B-' and 'Matter of L-E-A-' pending issuance of these regulations. This Legal Sidebar examines the AG decisions addressing the availability of asylum for applicants fearing nongovernmental persecution based on their membership in a particular social group, President Biden's executive order, and legislative options for Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Hillel R.

  2021-07-01
• Evaluation of San José 's Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force

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  "Since 2011, the City of San José's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) has partnered with Resource Development Associates (RDA) and Dr. Jeffrey Butts from John Jay College of Criminal Justice to conduct an evaluation of the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force (MGPTF). Since its inception, the MGPTF has gained widespread acclaim. In 2008, the National League of Cities and National Center on Crime and Delinquency recognized the initiative as a promising approach. In 2010, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention invited the City of San José to join as one of six cities in the nation working with federal agencies to share promising strategies and identify opportunities for federal agencies to enhance support local efforts. Despite this acclaim, there has not been a comprehensive, rigorous evaluation of the Task Force to shed light on the factors that have made it successful over time, nor to examine its impact on the community. This evaluation responds to that need by examining (1) the evolution and implementation of the MGPTF over 20 years and (2) the associations between MGPTF activities and youth outcomes and gang violence over 20 years."

  National Criminal Justice Reference Service (U.S.)

  2017-02
• Fact Sheet: H.R. 3697, The So-Called 'Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act' [website]

  Show summary     Open resource [html]     (open full abstract)

  From the webpage: "H.R. 3697 expands the immigration grounds of removal by adding new grounds for 'gang members,' but the overbreadth would capture many individuals who have no involvement in gang activity whatsoever. A full fact sheet is available here."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Democratic Staff

  2017-09-14