Gang Crime Explained Through Conflict & Functionalist Theory PDF

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Explain Gang Crime Through a Conflict & Functionalist Theory...

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Gang Crime Explained Through Conflict & Functionalist Theory

SOSA 2182- Exploring crime & Behaviour Ahmed Abokar- B00788037 Due: April 4th, @4:05 Dr. Chris Giacomantonio

Gang crime is a very broad and undefined type of crime which affects communities and law enforcement worldwide. There a various types of gangs from biker gangs, crime families, cartels, mafias, street gangs etc. Gang violence and crime is one of the most publicized and obsessed over crimes in the media today next to serial killers. If you go on Netflix you can see a whole section of genre devoted to documentaries and series on gangs covering the wide range from the Bloods vs the Crips, Pablo Escobar's cartel, and Hells Angels. This causes an exaggeration of gang crime in society and leaves communities uniformed of the proper way to respond to the issues on how it affects society. It is a complex type if crime to analyze, as the word gang itself does not have one set definition when it comes to defining it in terms of the law. And the formation of gangs has changed over the past few decades. 1Gangs today no longer have fixed memberships based on territory, they are constantly moving around based on where their leader sees opportunity to make money. This makes it difficult for law enforcement to catch these types of criminals. Canada’s homicide rates have skyrocketed in the last 10 years and that is in direct correlation with the prevalence of new age gang crime. (Dickinson, C.) Viewing this topic through functionalist theory and, conflict theory it will give a better insight as to who gang crime and violence affects, where it takes place, and how and why society responds to it accordingly.

Gang crime which can been seen as a branch of organized crime has a lack of consensus among academics, law enforcement agencies, government policy-makers, and criminal

Dickson, C. (2019, February 25). Violent organized crime in Kamloops, B.C., poses public risk, says researcher | CBC News. Retrieved March 25, 2019, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-gangs-public-at-risk-1.5030464

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intelligence analysts with respect to defining street gangs and gang-related activity. This lack of agreement has led to difficulties with documenting the prevalence of gangs, as well as with understanding the nature of the relationship between gang membership and violent behaviour. The most common understanding as to what a gang crime is are the following, 2 a federal felony involving a controlled substance, crime of violence that has an element of the use or attempted use of physical force against the person of another, and a conspiracy to commit and offense. (National Gang Centre). These crimes tend to be localized as street crimes. The definition of the word gang itself also has been problematic in being agreed upon. Many different regions across North America have similar yet contrasting criteria of the word however, the Public Safety Canada report provides some guidelines on how to identify a gang; 3group with minimum of 3-5 persons, phenomenon related to youth or young adults, self formed association with group identity (colours, logos, signs) , leadership structure with defined roles, claim to specific territories to which the group operates. (Public Safety Canada) Due to the issues with coming to an agreement on gang crime in terms of the law it has caused a problem with how to stop this issues. Different jurisdictions and regions view the topic on different levels therefore making it problematic to create programs and laws which will stop this issue as a whole nationally. While there is difficulty in defining the word itself there is no denying that the most common issue which takes place when known gangs are near, is gun violence. Firearm-related homicides in Canada have been steadily increasing, Shootings have now become the most common method of

N. (2016, December 14). BRIEF REVIEW OF FEDERAL AND STATE DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS “GANG,” “GANG CRIME,” AND “GANG MEMBER”. Retrieved March 13, 2019, from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/content/documents/definitions.pdf 3 Youth gangs in Canada: What do we know? (2018, January 31). Retrieved April 3, 2019, from https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/gngs-cnd/index-en.aspx 2

homicide. Gang-related homicides involving guns are no exception. Canada's national homicide rate last year was the highest it's been in a decade, Statistics Canada says, because of a spike in gang-related violence and shootings. The agency said there were 660 reported homicides in Canada last year. Much of the increase was linked to a dramatic rise in the number of gun-related killings, which itself was driven by more gang-related violence. 4Gang-related homicides committed with a firearm represented 12 percent of all homicides in 2015," Statistics Canada said. "By 2017, this proportion had grown to 21 percent." (Allen, M) While gangs are not a new phenomenon in Canada, the escalation of violent crime and homicide related to gang activity is of paramount concern and how we respond as a society will either serve to help address the issue or exacerbate it. The police and suppression alone is not going to resolve the issue of gangs. Like our neighbors in the United States of America, a punitive tough on crime approach has proven largely ineffective to date and has been unable to break the cycle of gang activity. Gang activity is multifaceted , and as a result requires a comprehensive, coordinated and collaborative societal approach. No one single entity nor organization will be able to adequately address the systemic social, economic, political and psychological conditions that can serve as pathways to gang affiliation and involvement. Rather, the key to resolving the issue of gangs is to invest in and implement effective prevention and intervention strategies. As a society, we have to take a multi-disciplinary, cross-sectoral approach that offers a continuum of services and supports that address the pathways into gang activity. Over and above criminal intervention, investments in

Allen, M. (2018, July 23). This annual Juristat article presents findings from the 2017 Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. It examines trends in the volume and seriousness of police-reported crime for both violent and non-violent offences at the national, provincial/territorial and census metropolitan area levels. Specific violations, such as homicide, sexual assault, and breaking and entering are examined, as well as trends in youth accused of crime. Retrieved March 22, 2019, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54974-eng.htm

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education, job creation, housing, addiction treatment, intensive social programs and research are the key to subverting the proliferation of gangs across the country. Given membership in gangs cuts across all gender, racial, cultural and economic barriers, it clearly has its rewards. Whether the benefits of gang affiliation are real or perceived, it’s important to recognize that gang involvement is fulfilling some type of unmet need for its membership. Whether it be to feel a sense of identity, camaraderie or belonging or more practically to meet a financial need, gangs are fulfilling a purpose and as a society we need to provide pro-social alternatives to address these needs. Providing people with opportunities and programs that will help improve their circumstances will serve as a deterrent to gangs. Addressing root causes of gang involvement such as poverty, mental health, addictions, and racism, we’ll be providing an alternative, pro-social pathway for people to live their lives. An essential component of an effective gang strategy will be early intervention. Engaging with those young people who are deemed at risk for gang involvement as early as possible will be critical. Providing at risk young people with programs that expose them to positive role models and peers and helps them develop social skills such as leadership, problem-solving and resilience is a preventative measure that is more cost-effective than incarceration. For example, in Ottawa Ontario the municipal gang strategy includes targeted intervention for younger siblings of known gang members and the preliminary results are showing it as a promising practice. While prevention and intervention are central to addressing criminal activity of gangs in Canada, research is also integral to finding a workable solution. What data we know about gangs in Canada is limited to police reports of related criminal activity which only sheds a light on a small fraction of the issue and we need a much more comprehensive understanding to inform effective policy and solutions. Police, teachers,

parents, nor government can single-handedly thwart gang involvement and criminal activity. It’s going to take a collective response and significant financial investment to address the root causes that lead to someone to get involved in a gang but in comparison to the punitive and more costly criminal justice system approach, it will garner better outcomes and stronger communities.

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Functionalist view society as a social system of interconnected parts, and they examine

society through a functional framework which stresses that everything in society serves a purpose (Bohm, R.M.). Consequently this sociological theory finds it irrelevant how good or bad something is viewed within society, a functionalist sees all aspects of society as having a purpose. This includes violence and crime. Therefore with respect to gangs, the functionalist theory would examine gang members as a crucial citizens in order to maintain a well functioning society, which can also been seen as helpful because they serve a purpose. The constant demand for new gang members within street gangs which require little to no qualifications make access to becoming a member relatively easy. This in return reduces the amount of poverty within a community where the gang can be found. The growing rate of poverty in Canada is increasing each year (20% since 2005) , and with the purpose of the crimes gangs commit being to make money ; people who are considered poor have somewhere to turn to in order to make money. Functionalists can also argue that gangs no only provide money making opportunities to the poor but also job opportunities to educated personnel like: lawyers, police officers, criminal data analytics , etc. If there weren’t any gangs or crimes to be prevented then most law enforcement officers wouldn’t have employment in their respected fields, for example there is a whole unit in

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Essays, UK. (November 2018). Gangs from Different Sociological Perspectives and theories. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ukessays.com/essays/sociology/gangs-from-different-sociological-perspectives-and-theo ries-sociology-essay.php?vref=1

the RCMP dedicated to ‘Guns and Gangs’. Gangs take a huge part in contributing to Canadian crime and crime rates. If gangs did not exist and were not a problematic issues within society the crime rate would drop in areas such as theft, violence, guns and drugs. Therefore the employment and demand for law enforcers would also decrease. 6Émile Durkheim would explain that gangs and deviance is normal, and they are found in all societies. He would see gangs as a part of society that promotes social unity, rethink societal norms, and challenges the way things are now.(Gangs from Different Sociological Perspectives and theories) Meaning that gangs cause society to adapt and create new social solidarity and norms. Robert Merton, on the other hand, preferred the middle range theory rather than the grand theory. Merton would probably emphasize the fact that gangs function with manifest and latent functions. The manifest function of how gangs (the actors) sell drugs to make a living shows a sign that the actors are conscious of their intentions. The latent function of selling drug to make money (the action) may not fully  explain the action continues to be performed.  The gang members which according to Merton would be the actors in this situation are not fully aware of the reasons they act the way they do and cause problems. This theory while states valid points in terms of economic advancement gangs bring the community does not take into account the many grievances to which gang crime causes within society.

Conflict theorists regard gangs as a social issue, and as a societal problem. Contrast to functionalists conflict theory agrees with law enforcement when taking the perspective that gang

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Essays, UK. (November 2018). Gangs from Different Sociological Perspectives and theories. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ukessays.com/essays/sociology/gangs-from-different-sociological-perspectives-and-theo ries-sociology-essay.php?vref=1

crime needs to be stopped in order to have a well operating, safe society. 7Conflict theorist would see this social issue as a pattern of domination, submission, and struggle between people of high and low standing (Brym and Lie 10). Conflict theorists hold the fundamental belief that society is comprised of groups of people who are in constant competition for scarce economic and social resources and social order is achieved primarily through the use of power and coercion by the ruling class in an effort to retain their majority stake of wealth and advantage. From a conflict theorist’s lens, any group that has the potential to jeopardize the social equilibrium and upset the power differential are subjugated and consensus in society stems from collective opposition by the dominant class to the proposed threat. According to Karl Marx, one of the first thought leaders of the theory, society is in a constant state of unrest and conflict due to labour and capitalism. Unlike with functionalism where stability and status quo are the ideal, Marx felt that change and conflict are inevitable and a normative part of society. Ultimately, he believed that owners exploit their workers to maximize productivity and the profit that flows from their labour is not distributed equitably.

As a result, this creates a constant state of competition and conflict

whereby the workers are in continuous pursuit of their fair share and the owners are fighting to maintain and increase what they believe is their rightful claim to the majority of resources. While the focus of early conflict theorists like Marx was centered on the economic system and social stratification, others believe the interplay between racism, prejudice, gender and inequality are more pertinent. M  arx would explain the gang issue as an control territory. Gang  members come together based off of their shared interests in committing crimes and making money. Their situations stemming from coming from poverty are also alike therefore making them seen as

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Brym,

R. J., & Lie, J. (2017). SOC . Toronto: Nelson.

lower standing socially.  Typically  it can be assumed power is what they want and distributing drugs and claiming territory for profit is how they maintain the power and forces they so crave. 8 This would result in class struggle from the gangs with lower class, and other people with higher class; defeating the suggestion that “Lessening privilege will lower the level of conflict and increase total human welfare” (Brym and Lie 10). Marx would group gangs as being subordinate  and trying to achieve power to be considered the dominant group.He would view gangs as contributors to the wealth of capitalists therefore being the working class. This theory best explains the gang crime issue at hand because it looks at the the issue as a whole not just a monetary problem.

High or increasing crime levels related to gang crimes make communities weaken. Crime analysts can translate this decline to mean a high desire for residents of a community to want to move. This in return causes less of an attachment to their neighborhood, less local involvement, and lower house values. The intrusive nature of organized crime specifically new age gang crime in has an impact on all aspects of Canadian society. Healthcare, financial protection, law enforcement, and community safety are areas which gang violence and crimes affect and cause Canadians billion of dollars each year the crime rates increase. Monetary effects are not the only issue at hand despite how functionalist theory views this issue. As explained through conflict theory violence, corruption, and intimidation tactics gangs use also affect the public's perception on their own safety and security within their communities and homes. This is a deprivation of basic rights caused by the gangs committing these street crimes, and these acts diminish quality

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 rym, R. J., & Lie, J. (2017). SOC . Toronto: Nelson. B

of life and a community's ability to prosper safely. Despite what functionalist theory states there is no need for gang violence or crime, it affects all aspects of society in a negative manner, this is why conflict theory does a more efficient job in explaining addressing gang crime as a major problem and how it affects society today.

REFERENCES 1. Dickson, C. (2019, February 25). Violent organized crime in Kamloops, B.C., poses public risk, says researcher | CBC News. Retrieved March 25, 2019, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-gangs-public-at-risk-1.5030464 2.

N. (2016, December 14). BRIEF REVIEW OF FEDERAL AND STATE DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS “GANG,” “GANG CRIME,” AND “GANG MEMBER”. Retrieved March 13, 2019, from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/content/documents/definitions.pdf

3. Youth gangs in Canada: What do we know? (2018, January 31). Retrieved April 3, 2019, from https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/gngs-cnd/index-en.aspx

4. Allen, M. (2018, July 23). This annual Juristat article presents findings from the 2017 Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. It examines trends in the volume and seriousness of police-reported crime for both violent and non-violent offences at the national, provincial/territorial and census metropolitan area levels. Specific violations, such as homicide, sexual assault, and breaking and entering are examined, as well as trends in youth accused of crime. Retrieved March 22, 2019, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54974-eng.htm

5.  Essays, UK. (November 2018). Gangs from Different Sociological Perspectives and theories. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ukessays.com/essays/sociology/gangs-from-different-sociological-perspectives-and-theo ries-sociology-essay.php?vref=1 6. Brym,

R. J., & Lie, J. (2017). SOC . Toronto: Nelson....