How would you arrange to meet the needs that gangs fulfill in ways that minimize violence?

Answer 1

...the first question I think we need address is, 'What are the needs supplied by gangs to their membership...?'

• Respect...? Yes, I believe this is what gang members are always harping on about...
• Protection... Certainly, especially from other rival gangs...
• A sense of identity...Most definitely considering that many of these young people come from broken homes and generally single parent families, see also respect above...

...another question I think bears consideration is, 'What is behind the breakdown of modern family social structure...?

• Young girls of 12-14 years of age, in UK in particular, being given the right to visit a GP Practice, receive advice on contraception, be handed free contraceptives, and here's my point, without their parent(s) being made aware...!?#
• An extremely high percentage of children are born out of wedlock to young girls in the age group 16-18 years of age...So now we have a situation where children are bringing up children... this is clearly a situation which will put these young children in jeopardy...!
• Many of these families are without a father or father figure...This, I feel is the crucial factor and it should be borne in mind, without wishing to appear racist, and we are trying very hard to at least appear objective here, that is is commonplace within the UK Afro-Caribbean community in particular for young males to sow their seed and move on to the next conquest, without any responsibility either felt for or given to their offspring...

...One further important consideration here:-

• One of the qualifications for gang entry is rape either gang-rape or as an individual...This criminal practice must be dealt with with the full force of the law, with additional adjuncts such as naming and shaming, community service with possibly additions such as really tough boot camps or outward bound courses run not by social workers but by people that these tough young gang members might look up to: Ex-military Special Forces personnel in UK and ex-Navy Seals in the US...

...right, this should be enough to help us make a decision which should at least give a pointer to where needs are met:-

• Statutory arrangements must be made which allow for young under-age girls to be handed condoms with total parental cognizance...
• Young Afro-Caribbean males must be forced, again by statutory requirement, to take on the role for which they, although young, are eminently responsible...!

...this is one of the toughest questions I have ever had to answer I hope it goes some way to answering your question..