Bullying, Gang Violence, and Hate Crimes
Bullying, gang violence, and hate crimes all have a common denominator: acts of
violence toward individuals or groups from whom the perpetrator(s) feels some level of
threat. This threat results in the perpetrator(s) taking action. A bully might attempt to
intimidate a classmate to relieve his or her own sense of insecurity through a false sense
of power. A gang might attempt to gain respect by imposing a general sense of threat on
a neighborhood. A group of homophobic males might try to solidify their own sexual
orientation by attacking an outwardly gay male.
An additional commonality between and among these types of crises is the collective
impact of their actions on a community. Individual survivors/victims of the crises, as
well as the community as a whole, must accommodate the experiences and navigate
through the aftermath.
To prepare for this Discussion:
�Review all of the assigned Learning Resources for this week, focusing on effects of
and intervention strategies for survivors of bullying, gang violence, and hate crimes.
�Select one crisis from the following: bullying, gang violence, or hate crimes.
�Think about the primary effects of the crisis you selected and the intervention
strategies you would use to address those effects.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 a summary of the primary effects of the crisis you selected (bullying, gang
violence, or hate crimes). Then, describe two intervention strategies you would use to
address the effects of the crisis you chose. Be specific and use examples to illustrate.
Gang Violence
Gang violence, bullying and hate crimes are related, considering that the activities are
acts of violence directed at groups and individuals. The acts build a feeling of threat. The
threat pushes the perpetrators in taking action as a reflex response. This paper focuses at gang
violence.
A gang, on the other hand, gains respect through terrorizing neighborhoods. The
threats make the neighbors insecure and controlled by the gangs. The actions of gang
violence have an impact on the community and also to the individual victims/survivors of the
illegal acts (Huff, 2011).
Gang violence poses a complex problem in the urban centers, in all the territories and
States, contemporary gangs are also in the suburban and rural areas as the gang members flee
law enforcement in the urban areas (Bruneau et al., 2011). Drug violence is associated with
GANG VIOLENCE 2
gangs in all the fifty states. United States cities offer lucrative markets for the illegal drugs.
Violence is threatening the general society. Gangs employ violence in controlling regions and
in distributing the drugs to the targeted regions (Huff, 2011).
Intervention strategies are connected to fostering positive change through policies.
Policies controls are in place in making communities feel safe. Policies are laws controlling
gang violence in the community. Federal laws and State laws are examples of policies
designed in ending gang violence. Crime prevention policies work with schools, programs,
city councils and law makers (Bruneau et al., 2011).
The second intervention strategy identifies with community policing, this is
influential in making the communities and the police work together in ending the gang
violence. The communities and the police use problem solving techniques and partnerships in
ending the crimes and in fostering public safety (Huff, 2011). San Diego Drug Abatement
Response Team (DART) is an example of a community policing program.
Individuals affected by the crisis and the community forge way out considering that
life must continue. In America, there are thousands of illegal gangs across the States, the
gangs impact on the cities, towns and communities.
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References
Bruneau, T., Dammert, L. & Skinner, E. (2011). Maras: Gang Violence and Security in
Central America. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press.
Huff, R. (2011). Gangs in America III. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc.