Gangs Flashcards
(23 cards)
What’s unique about BC Youth gangs?
We have kids coming in from both middle and upper class families with both parents present
Define a youth gang
- Self-identify as a group
- Are generally perceived by others as a distinct group
- Involved in a significant number of delinquent acts that produce consistent negative responses from the community or law enforcement
What are the hierarchy levels of youth gangs from most important to least?
- Core
- Committed
- Periphery
- General Population
*Who are the core members of a youth gang?
-> Center of the group
-> Youth that provide leadership in a negative manner
-> Escalate behavior, test authority, lots of influence within gang, make efforts to grow the gang, highest social status, use committed group for acts of violence and crimes
*What is the role of committed members?
-> Foot soldiers
-> Willing follow directions of core members
-> Willing to engage in violent acts or behaviors in order to enhance their status (as want to be in core)
-> Seeking praise and validation from the core
*Who are the periphery members in a youth gang?
-> Youth who are interested and active in the group but carry very little or no power/influence at all
-> Motivated for being along for the excitement and notoriety (attending parties, drive alongs, etc.)
*What is the “general population” in gang structure?
-> No involved in gang activity at all
-> People are victimized or gang is looking at these people to recruit
What are youth typically seeking when joining gangs?
To get their needs and wants met.
What are the different pathways into gangs?
- Traditional
- Non-traditional
- Indigenous
*What is the “traditional” pathway to gangs?
Youth pushed into gang for survival, better future, protection, born into it
pushed into gangs due to poverty, unstable homes, poor school connection, and disorganized neighborhoods.
Delinquent peers
List 3 traditional pathway risk factors.
Single-parent or distressed families
Frequent school changes
Early police contact
*What is the “non-traditional” pathway to gangs?
Youth from stable or wealthy families pulled into gangs, often due to lack of adult connection.
EX. Parents working all the time so never home
- Basic needs have been taken care of
- Siblings with post-secondary education
- Stability and consistence in house and school
- More frequent discipline/suspensions in secondary school
- Tend to do well academically, successful in sports (or no involvement)
- Later police contacts
Where is the largest representation of Indigenous youth gangs?
Prairie provinces.
*How do Indigenous gangs typically form or function?
-> Can be on or off reserve
->Tend to copy other gangs in terms of look (tattoos, colors etc.)
->Prone to engage in violence with other Indigenous gangs over revenge, geography, and reputation (rather than financially motivated violence such as drug trafficking/drug territories)
How are Indigenous gangs different from other street gangs?
More violent initiations (e.g. assaults)
Less sophistication
More prison involvement
Used for risky, low-reward tasks by other gangs (which could be why there are more in prison)
What is the typical role of female gang members in youth gangs?
They usually exist on the periphery and rarely hold formal leadership roles.
->only 6-8% of gang members are female
What are common reasons females join gangs?
For protection, family, security, and wealth—similar to male members.
Why are females in gangs at higher risk?
They are more vulnerable to exploitation and victimization.
*What roles might female gang members take on involving criminal activity?
Drug use, trafficking, and transport
Holding/carrying weapons (especially for partners with legal conditions)
Recruiting other females for trafficking or pimping
How young can children be when recruited into modern gangs?
As young as 12 years old (and even younger in some cases).
What platforms are commonly used to recruit youth into gangs today?
Social media
What is a “Dial-a-Dope” operation?
A drug delivery system like pizza delivery: contact via social media or burner phone, meet at location, with roles like drug holder, deliverer, and runner.
What are some warning signs a youth might be involved in gang activity?
Burner phones
Rental/nominee vehicles
Large amounts of cash
Individual drug packages
