Kids with Guns
The Rising Threat of Youth Gang Involvement
The different perceptions people carry of gangs is vast. Some may imagine a hardcore biker gang, draped in leather; others conjure images of a classic mafia family straight out of The Godfather. Very few people, however, would imagine a group of fourteen-year-olds among these Don Corleones.
As absurd as it may seem, this depiction holds more accuracy than you’d expect. Based on a report done in 2009 by the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force (NVRGTF), of those who admitted joining a gang in the assessment, three-fourths revealed that they had joined by age fourteen and one-quarter by age twelve (“Northern Virginia Comprehensive”). And this number is only growing.
Youth gang involvement has become an increasingly common phenomenon in the past decade. The consequences of this have been devastating throughout the world, and D.C. is no exception. The D.C. metro area has been impacted by the growing youth involvement in La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, MS-13 is a “violent, transnational criminal organization” that operates throughout the United States, forcing members to commit crimes in order to maintain membership (“Three Alleged MS-13”). Years ago, MS-13 was weakened to the point that it was considered a lower priority for law enforcement in the D.C. metro region (Massimo). Recently, however, the gang has once again gained traction.
Michael McGarrity, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, reveals “we’ve seen a reemergence or reconstitution of MS-13 over the last year and a half. With that has come an increase in violence” (LaSusa). The prominence of youth members may play a role in this. As Jay Lanham, executive director of the NVRGTF, explains in regards to young members, “they’re trying to make a name for themselves” (Massimo). These young members have to prove their seriousness and establish respect, and they see violence as the only way to do that.
Becoming involved in a gang has detrimental consequences for adolescents. Membership acts as a barrier for the normal course of development, causing disorder in the young adult’s life course. Youth gang involvement, for example, is associated with reduced commitment to schooling and education and an increase in unemployment, anger, and teen parents (Thornberry). Even adolescents involved with a gang for merely a year or two often suffer the consequences into adulthood. Research suggests that former gang members nearing their 30s display “increased economic hardship and family problems, poorer physical and mental health, substance abuse, and continued involvement in crime including elevated rates of incarceration” (Thornberry). In many cases, gang membership acts like a cancer, crippling an adolescent’s future prospects. And this cancer is only metastasizing.
In addition, the ramifications of youth gang involvement hit more than just the adolescent members; it affects all of the youth in the area. Back in December of 2018, several children at the Langston Lane Apartments in Southeast Washington, D.C., saw the body of fifteen-year-old Gerald Watson after he was shot and killed (Hermann and Alexander). Watson — who was a freshman at Anacostia High School, remembered as being a caring friend, student, and athlete — was shot 17 times in the stairwell of his apartment building. The kids of the neighborhood are left to grapple with this trauma. According to child psychiatrist Dr. Meg van Achterberg, who holds weekly group therapy sessions at the nearby TraRon Center, “there is a tendency to hit first, ask questions later. Protect yourself, first and foremost” (Wise). In the aftermath of Watson’s death, volunteers at the center have reported more unpredictable bursts of anger, sadness, and anxiety from the students. “It’s like they’re living in a war zone, and things do not feel safe,” Dr. Achterberg explains. “fIt does not feel safe to walk around in the neighborhood. It feels like bad situations, danger, violence can happen” (Wise). Little kids in the neighborhood won’t jump rope out on the grass or draw chalk masterpieces on the sidewalk; they’re too afraid to play outside.
The increase of youth gang membership certainly paints a bleak image. That doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless, however. Several law enforcement officers, including Captain Paul Cleveland of Fairfax County police’s anti-gang unit, had stressed the importance of community involvement. “We can do a great job of going out and arresting people, but these at-risk kids — where are we gonna put them if the programs aren’t funded?” Cleveland inquires (Massimo). There is only so much that law enforcement can do alone, but the people surrounding potential gang members, can make a world of difference. Interviews of various gang members reveal that “they liked the feeling of belonging and the perceived respect they received from being in a gang, but usually did not form strong and lasting friendships within the gang” (“Northern Virginia Comprehensive”). If the community can provide at-risk youth with another source for this sense of belonging, it could lesson their desire to join a gang. Furthermore, three-quarters of interviewees claimed to know kids who successfully exited gangs, many without any punishments (“Northern Virginia Comprehensive”). Contrary to the common belief that gangs are for life, there is worth to prevention and intervention activities.
So where do we start? Communities need systems in place to prevent adolescents from joining gangs and — for those who have already boarded that sailing ship — to reduce the negative impact of the gang. This is by far easier said than done, however. There is a lack of strong programs for youth at risk for gang membership or for active gang members. Thus, we are left with two options: rigorously scrutinize the effectiveness of existing programs or start one from scratch.
Both options have potential. The latter possibility would allow for a program based on known risk factors for gang membership and theories of how negative consequences for members arise. The former option would build on the demonstrated success of existing programs (however few they may be). The community could work with program developers to enhance the program to address specific needs of youth involved with gangs. The basic approaches of the program would remain, but there would be more emphasis on explaining why gangs have such a devastating impact on their members.
Community members can change the course of an at-risk youth’s life for the better — the major stipulation here being the plural “community members.” The community has to coordinate efforts and work together. This task may seem rather daunting, but it can start by simply chatting with your neighbors. Anyone is capable of walking next door to propose a plan for a youth art program or for starting a town soccer team. One short conversation could lead to a program that becomes a youth’s outlet, a way for them to be a part of something other than a gang. So what are you waiting for?
