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What do you feel is the best way to handle gangs and other special populations in the juvenile justice system? Specifically identify three of the most important factors in determining whether a youth will join a gang and which of the issues identified as special populations most prominently shapes or alters the processing of offending juveniles. Defend your position with some facts and data.

PLEASE REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 125 WORDS or MORE) 

 CLASSMATE’S POST

I feel that the best way to handle gangs and related special populations should start with a two-pronged approach. The first would be a cooperative effort between school, law enforcement and other social or youth related services to provide stronger outreach and prevention methods through education, awareness and youth activity programs. I would argue the second step would be proactive gang enforcement.

This could be done by using police and probation resources to provide for an intensive supervision program that would allow for gang monitoring and intelligence information. I would argue though controversial, a unit like the LAPD’s CRASH Unit of the 1990’s would be a good idea. The overall concept worked and reduced crime before the corruption scandals. As it pertains to the 3 factors that would shape the juvenile offenders to join gangs is first, it provides a sense of belonging to a group, in some cases acts as families for the gang (Taylor, Fritsch, 2011).  The second is that it provides for a way for a youth to obtain money through drugs and other crime, the last reason is that friends join gangs and they want to belong (Taylor, Fritsch, 2011).

Reference:

Taylor, R. Fritsch, E. Juvenile Justice: Policies, Programs and Practices. 4th Edition. (2011). McGraw Hill. New York. New York