Arguably, the world is increasingly becoming more insecurity. As a matter of fact, gangs can have influenced various aspects of the society which include economic, social and psychological. The society imprisons more women and men as compared to the past. This is a clear show that crime in society has increased, and people no longer live in peace. The main aim of prisons is to change the character of individuals before coming back to society, but this has never been achieved. There are many prison gang’s related activities in the world today that influence the society. In most cases, it is critical to comprehend the nature and scope of the prison gang because its impacts on community depend on its characteristics. One of the prison gang that is well known is the Aryan Brotherhood. This is a supremacist group, which was formed in the year 1967 in California at San Quentin Prison. It is estimated to have approximately 15,000 members out and in of prisons.
The Aryan Brotherhood was founded by Tyler Bingham and Barry Mills to offer protection to white prisoners from black inmates, especially during the integration of prisons. It is located an area that is dominated by blacks. Basically, Aryan Brotherhood still exists in the United States and has a lot of influence in society. The survival within the prison system in the United States and its environs has led to a subculture that breeds hate, violence and racism. The prison gang phenomena have not only affected the prisons, but it goes beyond the prison walls and spread in various cities of the United States. The actions of prison Gangs such as an Aryan Brotherhood focus in maintaining white supremacy in society, leading to tension among blacks and whites both in prison walls and in society (Howell, 2006). The AB has tremendously grown to a stage of becoming a criminal enterprise and continues to ensure its supremacy in the world of crime.
After the establishment of Aryan Brotherhood, it provided protection to its members inside and outside prison walls. The increasing population of prison gangs and the tremendous increase of narcotic demands have led to an increase in criminal activities in communities. Aryan Brotherhood has expanded with the intent to control the communities and illicit business activities. The prison gangs have developed a strong network whereby those in prison can control all the activities of its members in the community. As a result, these gangs operate a contraband market, which serves most of the prisons with drugs and other necessities. The AB, strive control of the business activities of the community. For example, they control the businesses of gambling, drugs, as well as male prostitutes (Fleiher & Decker, 2001).
The Aryan brotherhood has a structure within various prison systems. The Federal branch of the AB had an alignment on various issues with the Mexican Mafia. These alignments came to man end recently due to differences in opinions. The Aryan Brotherhood has affected the communities through the drug businesses (Pollock 2005). As a matter of fact, the Aryan brotherhood dominates in the selling of both legal and illegal drugs with an aim of attaining financial gain. This has affected the community adversely, in that the youth and community living in the Aryan Brotherhood territory live in fear. The youth in the affected communities has been made part of the Aryan Brotherhood, meaning the entire community is changing to be a crime zone. In addition, the youth have become drug addicts because the drugs are easily available in the streets. In the long run, all the youth will forego education and other constructive social activities due to drugs. In fact, most of the youth has dropped out of school. The main gang always operates in prisons and controls all these drug business inside prisons.
The AB has taken control of the streets and various illegal activities in the community for the sake of financial gain. The membership of AB has grown due to letting out of gang members in one prison and re-entering to another. As they move into these prisons, they recruit others leading to their increase in the number. The community is always exposed to more danger when the number of prison gang increases (Fleiher & Decker, 2001). Another impact of prison gangs in the community is the increase of killings and homicide cases. As a matter of fact, homicide has become one of the greatest concerns in the society today. Prison gangs, are in fact, the main suspects of many homicide cases in the streets. The gangs in prison have the links in society that ensure that everything that concerns the gang goes well. In case, other prison gangs or individuals pass their territory they are killed. In the United States, Aryan brotherhood is believed to be carrying out most gang-related homicides. The youth gangs in prison or outside prison is mainly responsible for dissapropriate homicides cases.
Recent studies show the number of gang members returning to prison and back to the community is underestimated. In a real sense, the AB has a trend of returning to prison and back to the community; this is known as the street life cycle. This cycle leads to increase in weapon procurement and property crimes. Many respondents on the issue of prison gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood assert that the impact of returning gang members was observed in the increase of drug trafficking and violent crimes (Pollock, 2005).
The Aryan brotherhood has various economic impacts on the community. Perhaps, the estimate of cost of gang related activities are not systematically and routinely recorded. Hence, the exact impact of Aryan Brotherhood activities is unknown. Economic proponents believe that Aryan Brotherhood has misused a lot of resources in the community and amassed a lot of financial gain for themselves through illegal means. The Aryan Brotherhood carry out illegal activities; hence they are not taxed. The financial and medical costs used to feed the prison gangs cots a lot of taxpayers' money. In the United States, Aryan Brotherhood is believed to have long significant economic impacts.
The Aryan brotherhood has also influenced schools. While in prison, the Aryan brotherhood is linked to young people, who carry put delinquent activities in secondary and elementary schools. There is a tremendous correlation between the presence of the Aryan Brotherhood in schools and availability of drugs and guns in schools. A school-related gang activity are believed to be rooted to gangs in prison and extends beyond the boundaries of schools (Howell, 2006). There is increased cases of insecurity among teachers, students and other member of society. Students who are part of the Aryan Brotherhood have the tendency of killing other students and causing unrest in schools. The provision of security personnel in schools and other security detectors adds to the financial loss caused by the Aryan brotherhood to the community.
The community is also affected when one prison gang fights with another. For example, the clash between the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican mafia will cause havoc and total insecurity in the community. In addition, the prison gangs may fight inside the prison walls causing insecurity to other prisoners and the prison security personnel. This violence leads to destruction of property and loss of life. The Aryan Brotherhood is a threat both to prison officers and the police outside the prison walls (Fleiher & Decker, 2001).
In conclusion, prison gangs such as Aryan Brotherhood has very many impacts on society. Analytically, these impacts are believed to be increasing due to the increase in the number of Aryan brotherhood; in fact, it has spread to many states in U.S. Aryan Brotherhood affects the community economically, socially, psychologically, and physically. The prison gangs have dominated the streets carrying out drug trafficking, murders, and other illegal activities. In addition, they cause insecurity in academic institutions and the community environment. Perhaps, the illegal business carried out by Aryan Brothers deprives the state and the many community resources. The government and other stakeholders must implement policies that will eliminate the activities of prison gangs or else its impacts will keep on worsening.
Fleiher, M & Decker, S.(2001). An Overview of the Challenges of prison Gangs. Correctional
management Quarterly, 5 (1), 1-9
Howell, J. (2006). The Impacts of Gangs on Communities. National Youth Gang Center, OJJDP,
Pollock, J. M. (2005). Prisons today and tomorrow. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett.
