Chicago’s New Gang Policy

In this paper I will discuss Chicago’s new gang policy; based on the article, Let’s Meet: Chicago Police’s New Approach to Gangs, by Cheryl Corley. The city of Chicago’s rising gang activity has forced police officers to find new strategies in attempt to reduce gang violence. An increase in gang violence has influence police officials to implement a new program in the west side of the city in Chicago’s 11^th police district.  This summer, superintendent Jody Weis will begin the new program that has active gang members meet with community members who are tired of their gang activity. Then the gang members are offered assistance in finding jobs as well as other social services. However, part of this new program is extremely controversial. If one gang member is suspected of a crime, officers will arrest as many other gang members they can find, for any activity they may have been involved with in the crime. They are using both community based policing and what can be called the broken windows policing theory, that incarcerating individuals for smaller crimes will make others think twice before committing a more serious crime. In theory, gang members would be less likely to continue their gang activity after witnessing rival gang members being arrested.

Although, I am pleased to see the promotion of social services through the Chicago police department, I have mixed opinions about this new policy. Through mentoring youth in Beloit, Wisconsin, I have learned that many young people join gangs because they are dealing with various social problems such as poverty, poor quality of education, and household issues. These circumstances make some gang members believe that they and do not have any alternatives to gang activity. Alleviating poverty seems to be fixing the root of the problem, so initiatives such as job training should be a focus of the Chicago police department.  However, providing job application assistance and incarcerating individuals who may not have committed a serious crime seems contradictory. While the employment programs help provide alternatives to gang activities, adding to their criminal record will make it more difficult for them to find a job later in life.  

Although this method may be beneficial to the Chicago community, there is also a sad reality when it comes to gang formation. Even if employment programs do help gang members find stable jobs, resigning from a gang completely can also be dangerous for the ex-gang member. Gangs are often formed for protection and loyalty to each other, so leaving the gang may be viewed as betrayal by other gang members. Rival gang members may recognize the individual and create violence. The ex-gang member may be in more danger because they no longer have the protection from their previous affiliates.

In order to truly reduce gang violence, investing more money into social programs should be provided for all low-income Chicagoans. Police need to get to the root of crime, which is often poverty and drug addictions. Additional services such as drug treatment and GED classes, that the new gang policy will provide will not only reduce current crime, but may prevent it.  According to Don Steman, researcher from the Center of Sentencing and Corrections, a ten percent increase in incarceration results in a 2 to four percent decrease in crime (Steman, 2007). This proves that incarceration is not always cost-effective and alternatives to incarceration need to be explored. 

An interesting video of a similar program in Los Angeles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57mYfM9R5AI&feature=related

Sources

Steman, Don, “Reconsidering Incarceration: New Directions for Reducing Crime,” Vera Institute of Justice, January 2007.

Corley, Cheryl, “Let’s Meet: Chicago Police’s New Approach to Gangs,” National Public Radio,  December 2010. http://www.npr.org/2010/12/03/131357393/let-s-meet-chicago-police-s- new-approach-to-gangs (Accessed December 4, 2010).