EAST SIDE STORY - BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF A HIGH JUVENILE CRIME COMMUNITY (FROM PROGRESS IN BEHAVIOR THERAPY WITH DELINQUENTS, 1979, BY JEROME S STUMPHAUZER - SEE NCJ-57369)

• NCJ Number: 57380
• Author(s): J S STUMPHAUZER; T W AIKEN; E V VELOZ
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS, V 2 (1977), P 76-84

Annotation

THE WHOLE BEHAVIOR ECOLOGY OF A HIGH JUVENILE CRIME AREA, THE EASTSIDE LOMA AREA OF LOS ANGELES, CALIF., IS TRACED AND THE FACTORS WHICH MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR A YOUNG BOY GROWING UP HERE TO AVOID GANG INVOLVEMENT ARE LISTED.

Abstract

EASTSIDE LOMA IS A DENSELY POPULATED, GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTINCT AREA WITH 15,310 RESIDENTS, MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF WHOM ARE OF MEXICAN DESCENT. MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS $8,705 WITH MOST OF THE RESIDENTS EMPLOYED IN UNSKILLED LABOR AND CLERICAL JOBS. ONLY 21 PERCENT HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND 1 PERCENT HAVE ANY POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. THE COMMUNITY HAS THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR ITS 3,324 CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 13 WITH NO HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN THE CENSUS TRACT FOR ITS 1,479 ADOLESCENTS. THE AREA IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF A DOMINANT GANG WHICH HAS SUBDIVISIONS FOR VARIOUS AGE GROUPS, INCLUDING 9-13 YEAR OLDS WHO ARE USUALLY RECRUITED BY OLDER BROTHERS. DATA FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR 1975 REVEAL THAT, OF 14 REPORTED HOMICIDES IN THE EAST LOS ANGELES AREA, AT LEAST 6 WERE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EASTSIDE LOMA GANG. THE GANG INSIGNIA IS AN 'E/L,' AND IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE A FAMILY WITH THREE GENERATIONS WEARING AN 'E/L' TATTOO. OTHER GANG SIGNS, TATTOOS, AND DRESS PATTERNS ARE DESCRIBED. THE GROUP HAS STRONG RACIAL IDENTITY AND FILLS A VOID IN AN AREA WHICH OFFERS LITTLE TO YOUNG MEN. BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF THE GANG REVEALS THAT ITS MEMBERS PUT THEMSELVES IN MAXIMUM RISK SITUATIONS FOR THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF EXCITEMENT. PROBLEM BEHAVIORS OCCURRING MOST FREQUENTLY ARE SHOOTINGS, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, EXTORTION OF MONEY FROM RESIDENTS, STREET FIGHTING, AND VANDALISM. MEMBERS DO EVIDENCE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SELF-CONTROL IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. COUNTER INFLUENCES AND OLDER MEMBERS WHO HAVE 'GONE STRAIGHT' AND CAN BE ENLISTED TO WORK WITH YOUNGER BOYS AND A FEW YOUTH WORKERS. A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF NONDELINQUENTS IN THIS AREA SUGGESTS THAT THESE YOUTHS ALSO RESPOND TO SOCIAL ATTENTION, BUT THE REINFORCEMENT COMES FROM STRONG FAMILY TIES, PEERS WHO ARE NOT GANG MEMBERS, AND OTHER INFLUENTIAL ADULTS. BECAUSE GANG MEMBERSHIP IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CULTURE, INDIVIDUAL PROBATION EFFORTS WILL HAVE LITTLE EFFECT. THE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ITSELF MUST BE CHANGED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)