Gang bangers are banging up and bringing down the neighborhood

Dr. Gary Slutkin, a Chicago epidemiologist, views gang violence as an infectious disease, one that can't be cured with police sweeps and prison sentences. His strategy is aimed at changing behavior, much like the public-health campaigns that persuaded people to use condoms or quit smoking. New York City criminologist David Kennedy believes in issuing ultimatums, not to individuals but to entire groups: Stop the killings or we'll come down hard, not just on the shooter but everyone in his gang, for things like parole violations, drug dealing and unpaid child support. Though they work separately, both men have impressive track records, launching programs that have sliced homicide rates by at least half in some of the country's toughest neighborhoods. On the surface, their approaches seem wildly different. But at their core, both rely on community members — including ex-felons and former gang members — to carry a simple message to the streets: Stop it. 

(15) "Criminal street gang" means any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, having as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal acts, and whose members or associates individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity. This definition does not apply to employees engaged in concerted activities for their mutual aid and protection, or to the activities of labor and bona fide nonprofit organizations or their members or agents.

     (16) "Criminal street gang associate or member" means any person who actively participates in any criminal street gang and who intentionally promotes, furthers, or assists in any criminal act by the criminal street gang.

     (17) "Criminal street gang-related offense" means any felony or misdemeanor offense, whether in this state or elsewhere, that is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, or is committed with the intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by the gang, or is committed for one or more of the following….

 

The city aims to identify roughly 800 kids who are at the greatest risk of engaging in violence or being victimized by it. Predictors of violence, such as school discipline, are highest in the areas of the city where the initiative will be focused.

The initiative will try to blanket these teens with services — helping them to manage their anger, apply for jobs, stay in school and avoid gangs.

Lockhart's job is to coordinate a small army, including community groups, nonprofit agencies, mentors, businesses and volunteers.

She has no staff. Instead, most of the initiative services will flow through contractors in the three areas of the city who will report to her. She says it's crucial that services come from neighborhood groups, not City Hall. Those groups include the Urban League, Southwest Youth & Family Services and Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club.

What are the different street gangs fighting over?

Lt. Ron Wilson: What we're experiencing in Seattle that's different perhaps than what you see down in L.A. or on the East Coast, is the dynamics of the gangs we're dealing with. We're dealing with a lot of youth now, as opposed to the 1990s and 1980s, when we had a lot of older individuals and the drive at that time was the drug market, crack cocaine. There was a lot of tension there and a lot of conflict between gangs in the '80s and '90s over marketing of crack cocaine.

Most of the time, when we've had shootings involving young people, it's usually a matter of disrespect. It's not about turf. It's not necessarily about marketing drugs or any type of other illegal crime. It's a matter of disrespect where they handle the conflicts between them with firearms.

Washington 28A.320.140. Schools With Special Standards—Dress Codes

(1) School district boards of directors may establish schools or programs which parents may choose for their children to attend in which: (a) Students are required to conform to dress and grooming codes, including requiring that students wear uniforms; (b) parents are required to participate in the student's education; or (c) discipline requirements are more stringent than in other schools in the district.

 

(2) School district boards of directors may establish schools or programs in which: (a) Students are required to conform to dress and grooming codes, including requiring that students wear uniforms; (b) parents are regularly counseled and encouraged to participate in the student's education; or (c) discipline requirements are more stringent than in other schools in the district. School boards may require that students who are subject to suspension or expulsion attend these schools or programs as a condition of continued enrollment in the school district.

 

(3) If students are required to wear uniforms in these programs or schools, school districts shall accommodate students so that the uniform requirement is not an unfair barrier to school attendance and participation.

 

(4) Nothing in this section impairs or reduces in any manner whatsoever the authority of a board under other law to impose a dress and appearance code. However, if a board requires uniforms under such other authority, it shall accommodate students so that the uniform requirement is not an unfair barrier to school attendance and participation.

 

(5) School district boards of directors may adopt dress and grooming code policies which prohibit students from wearing gang-related apparel. If a dress and grooming code policy contains this provision, the school board must also establish policies to notify students and parents of what clothing and apparel is considered to be gang-related apparel. This notice must precede any disciplinary action resulting from a student wearing gang-related apparel. 

Washington 28A.600.455. Gang Activity—Suspension or Expulsion

(1) A student who is enrolled in a public school or an alternative school may be suspended or expelled if the student is a member of a gang and knowingly engages in gang activity on school grounds.

(2) "Gang" means a group which (a) consists of three or more persons; (b) has identifiable leadership; and (c) on an ongoing basis, regularly conspires and acts in concert mainly for criminal purposes.

·         Gang activity is on the rise in Washington schools

·         Gang intimidation has a negative effect on the school environment and learning

·         Gang activity in the vicinity of schools is a risk to school safety

·         Effective anti-gang programs require prevention, intervention, and suppression

·         Schools lack uniform approaches to gangs

·         Schools lack information and resources to address gang issues

 

From these findings, the Task Force made a series of recommendations:

 

·         Revise gang statutes for schools so they are consistent with the criminal code and allow OSPI to develop rules regarding gang-identification protocol, definitions of “gang activity, and other gang-related disciplinary issues.

 

·         Authorize the creation of 1000-foot “school safety zones” for which persons may be excluded if they are engaging in activity which warrants alarm for the safety of staff or students or which causes a substantial disruption of the educational process.

 

·         Fund grants to school districts and communities for school-focused gang prevention and intervention programs which embrace a multi-system approach to anti-gang efforts; projects to include assessment of gang-involved students, and provide education and intervention services aimed at re-integrating suspended or expelled students.

 

·         Consider a new categorical funding formula for students that have been long-term suspended or expelled for gang-related behavior, violent or threatening behavior, possession of weapons, or other serious infractions that warrant concern for the safety and order of the school environment.

 

·         Mandate that districts adopt a policy to prevent gang activity in school facilities that includes consistent dress codes and uniform disciplinary actions for gang-related behaviors.

 

·         Provide ongoing funding of in-state joint training on gang prevention, intervention, and suppression for school personnel, law enforcement, juvenile justice professionals, social services providers, and others who work with gang-involved and gang-affected youth.

 

·         Develop a secure information-sharing website or software system which allows exchange of information about gang activity, identifiers, graffiti, sets, and other pertinent non-personal information between law enforcement, school personnel, juvenile justice professionals, and other authorized users. 

Ceasefire begins with the fact that a small number of hardened criminals commit a hugely disproportionate number of serious violent crimes. Kennedy explained that, in Cincinnati, the police would identify gang members who were on parole or probation and compel them to attend a meeting. There, the cops would demand that the shootings end, and promise that, if they did not, the punishment would be swift and severe and target the entire gang. The city would also make life coaching and job counseling available to those who wanted out of the thug life.