Introduction
This research paper seeks to explore the gang and security threat groups in American correctional facilities. There has been a rise in gangs in prisons which accounts for the rise in crime both inside and outside the penitentiaries. It is instructive to note that the gang members are taking advantage of the loopholes in legislation presented by the freedom of religion to further their agenda. These gangs pose a danger not only to the correctional officers who are normally attacked, but also the outside world where they carry out crimes in an organized fashion. Ever since the terror attack of 911, the recruitment of new gang members has continued unabated and mostly into terrorist groups. Other crimes perpetrated by these gang members include racketeering, drug trafficking, extortion among other unlawful acts. These dangerous trends presented by this disturbing phenomenon have the ability to degenerate into a full blown organized crime. A case example is the Red Command in Brazil, which now has the ability to run a parallel government to the one duly established by law. This paper presents the possible causes of the gang problem, an overview of the literature review generated on the subject and finally, policies that need be pursued in a bid to cure the problem.
Importance of the study
As espoused here above, the gang problem presents a potentially explosive situation that demands urgent and fastidious solutions. The problem cannot just be wished away. The horrendous crimes perpetrated by the groups even beyond the prison walls portend the dangerous increasing influence of the gang members. Further, the danger posed by the gang members to other prisoners by infecting them with similar tendencies and attacks on correctional officers makes it imperative for this issue to be examined. A prison gang is a group of three or more persons who are recurrently involved in crime in prison, when it is openly known to them.
Causes of gang affiliation
An examination of the reasons that cause prisoners to get affiliated to gang groups whilst in prison is important in this whole study. Statistics indicate that nearly half of all the gang members get recruited into the groups while in prison. Some of the causes of such affiliation include fear of other inmates. A prisoner who feels insecure by the danger posed by other prisoners owing to poor safety in the correctional facilities may join a group to get security. The desire to increase their status within the facilities is also a contributory factor. More so, the desire by inmates to feel a sense of belonging owing to the incarceration makes a number of them to want to join the gang groups. The access to contraband like drugs which they desire to use, also entices others to romp themselves into such gangs. In addition, the membership in these groups comes with its fair share of goodies. The crimes carried out by the groups such as drug trafficking, extortion, and racketeering provides income to the group which is shared amongst members. Consequently, the economic benefits that accrue from involvement in the groups impresses upon inmates to join the groups. These statistics make the case hat correctional facilties, as they are now, are a conducive environment for recruitment of inmates it no gang groups. This shows that there is something amiss with the whole system and point to possible solutions. This notwithstanding, some of the gang members are never new to the groups. They are usually former street gang members who continue to ply their trade in the penitentiaries. To this group, it can be said that these prison gangs are simply a natural extension of street gang life.
Literature Review
The literature review done on this area provides valuable statistics of the menace. The issue of inmates involved in gang groups is prevalent both in provincial and territorial correctional facilities. About 16% of the federal male and 12% federal female inmate population have been involved in the gang activities. Prison gangs as a matter of principle, require unadulterated loyalty and secrecy. This makes it difficult to tell the actual number of the gang members, and consequently leading to the conclusion that the statistics as they stand could even be higher. The gangs present challenges to the safety and security of correctional institutions including violence. They lead to tension amongst inmates on ethnic or racial grounds as well as undermining rehabilitation programs undertaken by the prison authorities by imbuing criminogenic values into the inmates. They also make the reintegration of parolees difficult since they resort to the delinquency behavior again, once out of jail. A report by the Department of Corrections for Washington State reported that gang members represent up to 18% of Washington’s 17,000 inmates, but accounted for 43% of all major violent activities inside their prisons. An emerging trend in the prisons is the increased adoption of radicalism-terrorist agenda. This is despite the progressive intention and spirit in the establishment of the prisons. It becomes obvious that something is wrong. Well aware of these challenges, it then behooves the authorities to develop strategies aimed at alleviating the problem and explore whether the existing strategies are effective or need an overhaul. With the correctional facilities being an extension of the outside world criminality, it is conceivable that the gangs manipulate the prison environment to ensure facilitation of their illegal trade outside the prisons. The gangs normally use violence to effect their aims and this is definitely the case inside prisons.
It is the contention in the literature review elucidated that an understanding of the leadership and structure of gang membership is crucial in unearthing management interventions. They propose different strategies for those gang groups that have been in existence for long and are well organized as compared to the transient groups. It is also important that strategies of reducing recruitment into the gangs are established with a view to curtailing on the proliferation of the increasing numbers. Ways of enabling members to leave the gang groups should be explored hat could include renunciation of the groups.
Policy recommendations
Being the case that gang groups pose a security risk to the larger society and have high correlation with recidivism makes it important to explore policies to eliminate the problem. One of the recommendations is establishing a working relationship between law enforcement and correctional agencies to ensure the sharing of information on gang members transferred into and out of prisons and back into the community. This has the effect of avoiding the formation of other groups or a rejuvenation of the old ones. Another would be to ensure the segregation of leaders of the gang groups and targeting the leaders with sanctions to prevent them from contaminating and organizing activities by way of cutting on their contact with others. There should also be criminal prosecution of leaders to deter them.
Thirdly, it is recommended that in a bid to enhance renunciation of members from the group, interventions using faith-based movements are crucial. Taking into consideration that leaders and gang members have influence on the outside world while in prisons, it is imperative that telephone and mailing monitoring is done by the correctional facilities. A monitoring of the external and internal communication of the gang member is crucial in this respect.
Another measure would be to reduce privileges accorded to those inmates who engage themselves in gang activities. This could be in form of reduced visits by members of the family and reduced access to communication and community. There is also a need for control release destination and locking down of the institution. Other privileges that could possibly dissuade potential gang members would be loss of good time credits for the delinquents. More so, there should be a rotation or transfer of both the leaders and gang members to avoid lumping together people with the same mindset.
Conclusion
The objective of this research paper was to examine the problem facing correctional facilities-that of gang groups. It sought to survey the possible causes of the groups, their activities and strategies to curb the menace as well as make policy recommendations on the issue. Going forward, it is of utmost importance that the strategies and the policy recommendations as set out in this paper be implemented with a view to eliminating the issue.
Works Cited
Georgia Department of Corrections. Offender Information. 31 December 2012. 13 January 2013.
Petersilia, Joan. "Prisoner Reentry: Public Safety and Reintegration Challenges." The Prison Journal 81.3 (2008): 360-375.
Seiter, Richard P and Karen R Kadela. "Prisoner Reentry: What Works, What Does Not, and What Is Promising." Crime and Delinquency Journal 49.3 (2008): 10-14.
Shewan, David and John Booth Davies. Drug Use in Prisons:An International Perspective. New York: Taylor & Francis Group, 2007.
