Essay Sample on Gang and Drug Abuse

Introduction

According to the recent survey, gang and drug abuse have been the major problems affecting the youths across the world. It is explored that the youths are unable to progress in most of the activities for instance education and various development activities because of drug influence. Also, it is noted that a good number of the youths have resorted to evil actions such as gangster and other criminal related issues to earn a living. These activities have been marked with lots uncertainties hence there has been a need to enforce the law to mitigate further impacts associated gang and drug abuse among the youths. This essay, therefore, explores the history and law enforcement agencies trying to curb the influence of drug abuse and the gang in various regions.

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History of the Gang and Drug Abuse

In United States history, between the year 1960 and 1990, there was a highly increased rate of crimes rates. Murder, theft and aggravated assaults dramatically rose by 95% making the state more unconducive for various activities. Over the period, gang and drug abuse have also been the major challenge in most of the developing nations. In respect to this, there has been upsurge increase in the law enforcement activities to restore the state of the eroded society. Various agencies like law enforcement initiatives have initiated various policy alternatives. For instance, the Federal agencies such as Kentucky have been at the forefront in coming up with the policies which ensure that individuals found in a gang and drug-related offenses are put to trial.

Drug abuse and gang-related issues are regarded as severe offenses being fought against by both the United States and other countries (Palumbo and Ferguson, 1995). The agencies are working hand in hand with the government policy to enforce the law against any person convicted of such criminal offense. The agencies arrest any person who is found in possession of any drug which has been declared by the state to be illegal and put to trial. Similarly, persons who are associated with any theft cases are arrested for further investigation and prosecution. Besides, as a way of ensuring full implementation and law enforcement against gang and drug abuse, the government alongside concerned agencies has been carrying out serious campaign and education to educate people as well as sensitize individuals against criminal offenses.

Education and campaign against drug are now considered a good strategy which aids in the law enforcement in various ways. For instance, it helps in instill positive behaviors thereby helping the police in instilling the morals and standards among those who have been victims of gang and drug abuse. Education also plays a vital role since it provides the knowledge as well as exposes individuals to the dangers associated with drug abuse such as ill health. Federal and Kentucky agencies strategies of initiating education among the youths as well will ensure that they are mold into useful members of the society who can take part in various development activities. Also, the government alongside the agencies has introduced various machines which enhances in detecting any drug influence to the individuals (Webb et al.2006). The strategy is also going to ensure that all the time the perpetrators do not escape the law enforcers. There is an also new policy which allows for imprisonment of persons found of theft cases for more than five years with hard labor. Such provisions to some extent discourage any influence one might have in committing any theft.

The model of gangs focuses their pursuit of economic gain. However, the essence of non-economic motives for gang membership and the irrationality of elements of gang behavior. Gang members tend to spend most of the time hanging out together, which entails verbal sparring, sports activities, and social activities(Dunham and Alpert,2015). Nevertheless, not all gang violence is undertaken as rational protection of territory for economic advantages. Sometimes Raids into another territory are just for fun. There is as much reason that individual whose thrill comes from a drive-by shootout will take the chance to gain to a buck as someone whose pleasure is retrieved from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The violent criminal gangs are specifically to blame for the increase in crime. In 2004, the National Youth Gang Survey (NYGS) approximated that around 20,000 active gang members gangs existed in the United States. Law enforcement defines the individuals and agencies with the role of enforcing laws and enhancing public order and public safety

Gang and drug problems initially have been regarded as local, urban problems, and governmental responses to gang problems have been emphasized at the local level. Nevertheless, it has facilities the enhancement of proactive, society-based strategies for handling gangs. The approaches to reducing gangs include the following: preventing youth from joining gangs, transforming existing gangs into more friendly teams and association clubs, and mediating rivalry among the gangs. However, prevention programs that integrate school curriculums with afterschool recreational activities tend to be relatively more active for avoiding and preventing gang crime and violence. The government has tried to fight against gangs by facilitating penalties and sanctions for gang-related crime and enhancing cooperation within various disciplines.

The various states have amended laws that entail strict sanctions for gang members who are caught in the act of crime, such as an imposition of harsher penalties for gang leaders convicted of drug dealing and reporting of any gun-related incidents at public schools to any law enforcement agency within 24 hours. Moreover, the State has amended a law that prohibits an individual who has coerced another to be a member of a gang from attaining and imprisonment. Again, some States have amended laws which facilitate penalties for any criminal act committed by a gang member. Local jurisdictions have various law enforcement strategies to controlling gang activity and minimizing gang-related crime such as avoiding loitering, prohibiting public consumption of drugs and alcohol and also holding parents responsible for offenses committed by the children. Moreover, housing authorities are evicting gang members. Mostly the gang units are regular in police departments of various towns, and there seem to be a relatively lesser number of prosecutors with the community prosecution trying to prevent crime before it occurs. The police are trained on how to curb the gang-related crimes and drug abuse in our societies.

Conclusion

Violent crime compromises the safety of the citizens and the vitality of cities. Criminal gangs tend to be facilitated by the monies got from drug distribution and armed with firearms illegally sustained and ultimately threatened and expose young individuals to violence. The approach for Safe Streets and neighborhoods seems to enhance by dealing war against gangs, youth violence, and illegal guns. To maintain and uphold the rule of law, Both the law enforcement agencies and the police have to get appropriate training on various strategies on how to deal with gang and drug abuse to promote security in our society such as community policing.

References

Webb, V. J., Katz, C. M., & Decker, S. H. (2006). Assessing the validity of self-reports by gang members: Results from the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program. Crime & Delinquency, 52(2), 232-252.

Palumbo, D. J., & Ferguson, J. L. (1995). Evaluating Gang Resistance Education and Training (Great) Is the Impact the Same as That of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)?. Evaluation Review, 19(6), 597-619.

Dunham, R. G., & Alpert, G. P. (2015). Critical issues in policing: Contemporary Readings. Waveland Press.