Derzonteddyfamily

GANG-INVOLVEDYOUNGPEOPLECUSTODYANDBEYONDAuthors:FionaFactorandProfessorJohnPittswithDrTimBatemanTheauthorsofthisreportwouldliketothankcolleaguesfromtheresearchandevaluationteamatBeyondYouthCustodyfortheircontribution.
Theyhaveprovidedadvice,conductedinterviews,generatedcasestudiesandcommentedonthereport'scontents.
Theyare:VivFrancis,ArcsLtdMarkLiddle,ArcsLtdLyndsayMcAteer,ArcsLtdSamWright,ArcsLtdInaddition,PippaGoodfellow,ProjectManageratNacro,deservesthanksforhersupportandencouragementthroughouttheprocess.
Allofuswouldliketothankthefollowingorganisationsandindividualsfromacrossthecountrythathelpedusgatherevidenceforthispublicationbyarranginginterviewswithstaffandyoungpeople,attendingprofessionalfocusgroupsorwritingcasestudies;weknowhowtime-consumingtheserequestsare.
Thecooperationandhelpfulresponseswereceived,atatimeofconsiderablechallengeinthefield,ishighlyappreciated;oursinceregratitudegoestoallconcerned.
ActionActonBirminghamYouthOffendingServiceCityUnited,BirminghamClayfieldsSecureChildren'sHomeCommunityChangeFoundationDatePalmProjectDiahanneRhineyEsmiServicesLimitedIntegratedGangManagementUnit,ManchesterKnightsYouthClubCreatingPositiveFutures,NewHorizonYouthCentreNorthWestResettlementConsortiumPaulOliatanProject507SafeChoicesSafeHandsSOSProject,StGilesTrustStMichael'sFellowshipTheDawesUnit,Catch22UserVoiceWestminsterIntegratedGangsUnitZeePoliticsACKNOWLEDGEMENTSExecutivesummary201Backgroundtothereport702Ganginvolvementandthegang-affectedneighbourhood1803Theeffectsofganginvolvement2004Girls,youngwomen,sexandthegang2205Thegangandtheprison2806Gang-involvedyoungpeople,desistanceandresettlement3807Modelsofinterventioningang-affectedneighbourhoods4208Developingagang-desistancestrategy4809Releaseandbeyond:Resettlementpracticeinterventions5110Conclusionandrecommendations66References69CONTENTS2Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond1.
BackgroundtothereportThisreportisbaseduponareviewoftheEnglishlanguageliteratureontherehabilitationofgang-involvedyoungpeopleagedbetween10and25.
Theinformationintheliteraturereviewisaugmentedbyinterviewswithpolicymakersandpractitioners.
ThefieldworkwasundertakenbetweenOctoberandDecember2014.
27professionalsattendedfocusgroupsinthesouth-eastandnorth-westofEnglandatwhichfindingsfromtheliteraturereviewandthechallengesfacedbypractitionerswereexplored.
Additionally,interviewswithresettlementprofessionalsandyoungpeoplewereconductedatsixsites.
Theyoungpeoplewereeitherincustodyorhadrecentlyservedcustodialsentencesforgang-relatedoffences.
19youngpeopleagedbetween16and25wereinterviewed,threeofwhomwerefemale.
Inaddition,eightinterviewswereconductedwithprofessionalsresponsibleforresettlementprogrammesbothincustodyandthecommunity.
2.
IssuesincustodyTheyouthcustodialpopulationhasfallensharplyinrecentyearswiththedeclinebeingparticularlysharpforthoseagedunder18.
Thosewhoareimprisonedarelikelytohaveamoreseriousoffendingprofileandmorecomplexneeds.
Notsurprisingly,thisgroupposesmanychallengesforthoseworkinginthesecureestateandresettlementprogrammes.
Gangsinprisonsareasourceofgrowingconcern.
In2013/14,16%ofboysinyoungoffenderinstitutions(YOIs)reportedhavingexperienced'gangproblems'whentheyfirstarrivedattheestablishment(risingto21%forblackandminorityethnic(BME)youngpeople).
Whilstthisreportisfocuseduponresettlement,itisclearthatwhathappensinthesecureestatehasasignificantimpactonhowtheseyoungpeopleengagewithresettlementservices.
ArecentinspectionofFeltham'A'YOI(whichholdsboysagedunder18)notedthat48gangswererepresentedintheestablishmentandthegangprobleminthesecureestateasawholewasdescribedas'seeminglyintractable'bytheChiefInspectorofPrisons(HMIP,2015).
Gang-involvedyoungpeopletendtobeconcentratedinahandfulofpenalestablishments,leadingtoapotentialreinforcementofgangidentity,andpressureonpreviouslyunaffiliatedyoungpeopletoalignthemselveswithparticulargroupstoenhancetheirownsafety.
Conversely,inanattempttobreakdowngangaffiliations,somegang-involvedyoungpeoplemaybedispersedtoinstitutionsfarawayfromtheirhomes.
Thiscanmeanthatgangactivitymightbe'exported'toinstitutionslocatedawayfromareasthathavetraditionallybeenassociatedwithgangproblems.
Arecentreport(Hughesetal,2015),identifiesthehighrateofmentalillnessamongyoungpeopleinvolvedwithgangs.
Additionally,thecentralityofseriousviolencewithinthegangplacesgang-involvedyoungpeopleatseriousriskofpoormentalhealth.
Professionalsinvolvedinthedeliveryofprogrammesinthesecureestateechoedtheseconcerns.
Theybelievedthatthereweretoofewprisonofficerswiththeskillsandknowledgetoworkwithgang-involvedyoungpeopleandgangviolenceinparticular.
Thisledtothefrequentrecourseto'lockdown'andpunishmentsthatpreventedmanygang-involvedyoungpeoplegainingaccesstopersonaldevelopmentprogrammesdesignedtotacklegangviolenceorattendingtheeducationalclassesonoffer.
EXECUTIVESUMMARY33Oneofthedifferencesbetweentheexperiencesofgang-involvedyoungpeopleandotherreturningprisonersisthatmanywillhavebeeninvolvedingang-desistanceprogrammespriortotheirincarceration.
YouthworkersandmentorsintheseprogrammesemphasisetheimportanceofmaintainingcontactwiththeseyoungpeopleduringtheirperiodofincarcerationinorderthatthedesistanceworkinwhichtheyhadbeeninvolvedwillnotbeunderminedwhiletheyareintheprisonortheYOI.
Thekeytosuccessfulandsustainedinterventionappearstobemakingcontactfairlyearlyintheyoungperson'ssentence,personalisingthatcontactviahandwrittenlettersandvisitsfromoneidentifiedworker,ratherthanprintedortypedlettersorbrochureswitha'takeitorleaveit'contactaddress,and,crucially,forthesupportworkertodowhattheysaytheyaregoingtodoandtogivetheyoungpersonregularfeedbackaboutdecisionsthataffectthem.
TheroleofeducationResearchsuggeststhateducationcanoffertheinmatearoutetosuccessuponrelease.
However,evidenceshowsthatprisonersofwidelydifferentabilitiesandatverydifferentstagesoftheireducationalcareerswerefrequentlyputtogetherinYOIs.
Aconcernwasexpressedthat,withtheimplementationofthenewregimeof30hoursaweekofeducationinYOIs,ifnoattemptismadetomakeitrelevantandinterestingforeachoftheinmates,itcouldincreasethelikelihoodofviolence,notleastbecauseitcouldmeanthattheyoungpeoplearedeniedaccesstothegymandothersportingfacilities.
Muchofthegang-relatedviolenceinprisonsandYOIs'kickedoff'duringeducationclasses.
Thereisahighlevelofundiagnosedlearningdisabilitiesandmentalhealthneedswithintheprisonpopulationandtheearlyuseofscreeningtoolscouldavoidmanysituationsinwhichtheseproblemsexacerbatetheviolence.
Additionally,itappearsthatthereisnospecialisedtrainingforteachersinpenalinstitutions.
Forgang-involvedyoungpeopleleavingcustodyitisimportantthatcleararrangementsareputinplacetoensurethattheycancontinuewiththeireducation.
Arrangementsforsuitableplacementsinschoolsorcollegesareoftenmadeextremelylate,orindeed,inonecaseweheardof,notatall.
3.
Gang-involvedyoungpeopleanddesistanceDesistancefromcrimeisaprocessratherthananevent.
Thereareanumberofpointsorsituationswheregang-involvedyoungpeoplemaydesistfromgangcrime.
However,desistingfromgangcrimedoesnotnecessarilymeanleavingthegang.
Althoughresearchsuggeststhatdissociationfromdelinquentpeersfacilitatesdesistance,forthosewhohavebeenembroiledinseriousgangconflict,continuedinvolvementmaywellbeaprerequisiteofpersonalsafety.
Youngpeoplemaydesistfromgangcrimeandintensiveganginvolvementfollowingthedeathorseriousinjuryofafriendorrelative.
Indeed,researchershaveobservedthatconstantexposuretoviolencemaypromotedesistance.
Someyoungpeopledesistwhentheymakethetransitionfromschooltocollege,whileothersstepbackfromganginvolvementwhentheysetuphomewithapartnerorwhentheybecomeaparent.
Theoneconsistentfindingfromdesistanceresearchisthatageisamajordeterminantofdesistancefromcrimeingeneralandganginvolvementandgangcrimeinparticular.
The'drop-outrate'fromgangsbetweentheearlyteensandthemid-20sisover75%,suggestingthatmostyoungpeople'matureout'ofganginvolvement.
4.
Resettlementservices:currentcontextSomeresettlementprovidershavewelcomedtheextensionofstatutorypost-custodysupervisioncommendedbythegovernment'sTransformingRehabilitationprogrammetothosewhopreviouslydidnotbenefitfromanystatutorysupportonrelease.
Fromthepointofviewofgang-involvedyoung4Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondpeoplethismightprovideanopportunitytomaximisethepotentialfortakingadvantageofthe'windowofopportunity'thatthetransitionfromcustodytothecommunityinvolves.
Effectiveinterventionwithreturninggangmembersrequirestheparticipationofdifferentagenciesandorganisationsandevidencesuggeststhatthisisbestachievedviaco-located,community-based,gang-desistanceprogrammes.
Criticalcomponentsofsuccessfulpartnershipsprovedtobeacombinationofwell-establishedarrangements,sufficientresources,particularlystafftime,andawillingnessandabilitytoshareinformation.
Despitethefactthatthereareanumberofprogrammesavailabletopenalinstitutions,manyprovidedbythevoluntarysector,thereisnocentralpointwhereinformationaboutthemisheld;knowledgeoftheprovisionthatcouldbeavailableonreleasemightwellreducetensionwithintheinstitution.
Afurtherdifficultyforresettlementagenciesistherecentlyintroducedpolicyofmovingprisonerstoaresettlementprisoninthefinalweekorsooftheirsentence.
Thiscanmeanthatworkdoneinthepenalinstitutionmaycometonothingbecausethesupportworkerlosestouchwiththeprisoneratacrucialmoment.
5.
ApplyinglessonsforpracticeBeyondacknowledgingindividualdifferences,itisimportantforpractitionerstorecognisethatfortheseyoungpeople,maturityseldomcomesat18or20.
Protractedadolescenceseemstobeacharacteristicofmanygang-involvedyoungpeopleandthisisexacerbatedbyimprisonment.
Thereforeserviceprovidersneedtohaverealisticexpectationsoftheirclients.
Respondentsfeltthat'pathwayplanning';breakingdowntheaspirationsofprisonersintoaseriesofeasilyachievablestepscanbeextremelyuseful,particularlyiftheyarementoredbysomeonewhohastakenthosestepsthemselves.
Youngpeople'ssupportneedsshouldbeidentifiedandnegotiatedwiththematthepointtheyaresentencedand,ideally,theyshouldbefollowedthroughbythesameworker.
Allrespondentswereagreedthatsustainedandconsistentsupportwasofparamountimportanceandthatshort-termcommissioningshouldbeavoided.
Youngpeoplewereclearthatstaffneededtodemonstrateconsistencyandcareiftheyweretobuildeffectiverelationshipswiththeyoungpeople.
Thereareparticulartimeswhenrecentlyreleasedyoungpeoplearelikelytorelapseintocriminality,especiallyiftheyhavehadtoberelocated.
Servicesandindividualsupportneedtobeavailablewhenyoungpeoplearemostlikelytofeellonelyandisolated,oftenonFridaynightsandatweekends.
'Throughthegate'servicesarerecognisedasacrucialelementofeffectiveresettlement.
Agenciesneedtorecognisethatmentorscanbedrawnfromthewholeofsocietyandthatanex-gang-affiliatedmentordoesnotalwaysmakethe'bestfit'foragang-involvedyoungpersonleavingcustody.
Acknowledgementofthehighlyskillednatureofthisworkanditsdemandsrequiresalevelofcaretoreducethechanceofburn-outamongstteammembers.
RecognitionthatreleasefromcustodyisstressfulandcanbetraumaticforsomeishighlightedinotherBeyondYouthCustody(BYC)publications.
Notwithstandingtheneedforstatutoryengagementaspartofthelicenceconditions,thereisalsoarecognitiononthepartofyoungpeoplewespoketothatsometimestheyjustwanttobeleftalone.
Beingabletorecognisethesesignsandhearthesemessageswasdeemedextremelyvaluableinthedevelopmentoftherelationshipbetweensupportworkersandyoungpeople.
5GirlsandyoungwomenPractitionerswhoweresurveyedsuggestedthatgirlsandyoungwomenwereinvolvedingang-relatedcrime;storingdrugsorfirearms,orsettingupattacksonrivalgangmembersetc.
However,theirmotivationsforinvolvementarenormallydifferentandtheirrolewithinthegangoftenplacesthematriskofvictimisation.
Thereisanincreasedawarenessoftheviolentandsexualexploitationofgang-associatedgirlsandwomen,probablyasaresultofrecentresearchinthisarea.
TheissuesforgirlsandyoungwomenwhoareganginvolvedechomanyoftheconcernsandrecommendationsraisedinBYC'spractitioner'sguideontheresettlementofgirlsandyoungwomenpublishedin2014.
Theprinciplesinformingtheseresettlementservicesemphasisethattheyshouldbestrengthsbasedratherthandeficitbased,culturallyrelevantandgenderspecific,particularlyindealingwithsexualassaultandabuse.
Evidenceexiststhatyoungpeopleareveryunlikelytoreportgang-relatedcrime(includingsexualviolence)foranumberofreasonsincludingalackoffaithinthe'authorities'tokeepthemsafeandfearofretaliationtargetedeitherdirectlyatthem,ortheirlovedones.
Formanyyoungpeople,andforyoungwomeninparticular,itisalsoduetothebroadernormalisationofsexualviolenceandafrequentlackofrecognitionthatacrimehasbeencommitted.
6.
PracticalchallengesThereareanumberofpracticalchallengesthatneedtobeaddressedtoprepareforthereleaseofgang-involvedyoungpeople.
1Securingappropriateaccommodationwhichislongterm,safeandsecureandwithinreasonabledistanceofemployment/educationalopportunities.
Thisisparticularlycrucialforthosewhohavebeenrelocatedandneedstoreflecttheculturalneedsoftheyoungpersonconcerned.
Recognitionthattheremovaloftheyoungpersonfromfriendsandfamilywillbeemotionallydifficultiscrucialforthosesupportingyoungpeopleduringtheirtransitionintothecommunity.
Eligibilitycriteriathresholdsforrelocationprogrammesareoftenjudgedtobetoohighandunrealistic.
Youngpeoplewilloftenneedhelpinsustainingtheirtenancyasthiswillbeanewexperienceformany.
2Familiescanoftenplayakeyroleinhelpingtheyoungpersonresettle.
Theresearcherssuggestthatstrategiestoengagefamiliesmustbeattunedtolocalsituationsvis-à-visgangs.
Skilledpractitionersarerequiredtonavigatethecomplexdynamicsoffamilyengagement,particularlywhenthesafeguardingneedsofchildrenareconsidered.
Theresearchersbelievethatthereisastrongcaseforsupportingbeleagueredfamilieswithgang-involvedyoungpeopleaspartoftheTroubledFamiliesprogramme,evenwheretheyfailtomeetthestricteligibilitycriteria.
Theycommend'earlyintervention'beforeayoungperson'sonroad(gang)lifestyleisestablished.
3Financialsupport.
Severalpractitionerssuggestedtheprovisionofa'resettlementpack'containingbasicessentialstosurviveforthefirstfewdayswouldbeapositivedevelopment.
Thiswouldrelievealotofthestressandanxiety,andforsome,lessenthetraumaofrelease.
Forgang-involvedyoungpeople,thelackoffinancialsupportcanbeaproblemthattheyresolvebyreturningtothegangandbenefittingfromitsillicitactivitiesinordertosecurearegularincome.
4Employment,educationandtraining.
TheuseofReleaseonTemporaryLicence(ROTL)couldbeexpandedtoensurethatinmatesgetthechancetoattendrelevanteducationalorvolunteeringopportunitiesandinterviewspriortorelease.
Havingarrangementsconfirmedwouldalleviatetheanxietiesassociatedwithuncertaintyonleavingcustody.
Ensuringastructuretotheirday,byattendingworkortrainingwassomethingyoungpeoplerecognisedashelpful;distractingthemfromthetemptationofreturningtotheirpreviouscriminalactivity.
Havingtodeclaretheircriminalpastatthepointofapplyingforjobswasrecognisedbymanyascreatinganunfairde-selectionprocesspriortointerview.
6Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond5Licenceconditions.
Bothyoungpeopleandtheprofessionalsprovidingresettlementserviceswereclearthatthesuccessoftheresettlementprocesswaspredicatedontheeffectivenessofthemulti-agencypartnershipresponsibleforsupervisinglicenceconditionsuponrelease.
Itwasimportanttodeveloptheseinconsultationwiththeyoungpersonconcerned,theirfamilyandanyrelevantprojectstaffinordertomaximisetheopportunityforyoungpeopletocomplywiththeirlicence.
Thisisespeciallythecasewheretheconditionsprohibiteitheraccesstocertainareasorassociationswitholdfriends.
ConclusionKeymessagesaboutgoodpracticeinresettlementholdrelevancefortheyoungpeoplewhoarethefocusofthisparticularreport.
However,theirimplementationmayrequireadditionalconsiderationsforreasonsofsafetyandwellbeingofyoungpeopleandtoensureappropriateandeffectiveengagementwithinthecontextof,formany,complexlifehistories.
Mostimportantly,thesecureestateneedstoundertakeappropriatescreeningofgang-involvedyoungpeopleinordertoensurethatthenecessarysupportisavailabletoinmatesaspartofitsprisonviolenceandself-harmreductionstrategyaswellasaidingtheresettlementprocess.
Duringtheperiodofthisinvestigation,theresearchteamhasdiscoveredsomeexcellentresettlementpracticeformeetingtheneedsofgang-involvedyoungpeople.
However,thetensionsandchallengeswithinthecriminaljusticesystemandparticularlywithinthesecureestateoftenrendertheseinitiativeslesseffectivethantheyhavethepotentialtobe.
Recognisingthedifficultiesidentifiedfromthisresearch,organisationsmightusefullyconsiderthedevelopmentofacomprehensiveganginterventionprogrammeasdescribedinthisreportonpage43.
7Whilethereisanextensiveliteratureontherehabilitationofyoungpeopleingeneralandasmaller,butsubstantial,literatureontheonsetof,andinvolvementin,gangs,gangcrime,andseriousyouthviolence,thereremainsapaucityofmaterialondesistancefromgangcrime,therehabilitationofgang-involvedyoungpeopleand,inparticular,howtheirperiodofincarcerationandreturnfromcustodymightbestbemanaged.
Inthisreportweendeavourtosynthesisewhatisknownandtodrawinferencesfromboththeliteratureandkey'informants'workinginthesefieldstofilloutthispictureandteaseouttheimplicationsforresettlementpolicyandpractice.
ThereareseveralkeymessagesaboutgoodpracticeinresettlementthathavealreadybeenidentifiedthroughtheworkofBYC.
1Resettlementisaprocesswhichshouldstartatthepointofsentencingandnotbeseenasaone-offeventatthepointofreleasefromcustody.
Thisprocessshouldinvolvetheyoungpersonmakingshiftsintheiridentity,facilitatingamoveawayfromcrimeandtowardsdesistance.
2Thereshouldbeaseamlesstransitionbacktothecommunitywithconsistencyofprofessionalsupportandplansabouthousingandeducation/employmentarrangementsknownpriortorelease.
3Wrap-aroundsupportwhichacknowledgesandpaysattentiontothetraumathatmanyyoungpeopleinthesystemmayhavehad,ormaystillbeexperiencing,isneeded.
Thisshouldalsoincludetheprovisionofappropriatementalhealthandsubstancemisuseservices.
Ensuringavailabilityoftherangeofrequiredservicesimplieseffectivepartnershipandbrokerage.
4Childrenandyoungpeoplerequireenhancedsupportaroundthepointofrelease,whichprovidesa'windowofopportunity'forchangebutcanalsobeexperiencedastraumatic.
5Engagementandhigh-qualityrelationshipsbetweenstaffandyoungpeopleareattheheartoftheresettlementprocess(Batemanetal,2013).
Whilstthesegeneralelementsofgoodpracticedoofcourseholdrelevancefortheyoungpeoplewhoarethefocusofthisparticularreport,theirimplementationmayrequireadditionalconsiderationsforreasonsofsafetyandwellbeingorindeedbemorenuancedintheirdesignanddeliverytoensureappropriateandeffectiveengagementwiththesegroupswhichresultinsuccessfulresettlementwithinthecontextoftheadditionalcomplexitiesandforsome,difficultlifehistories.
'Thegang':acontestedconceptInMay2012,theMetropolitanPoliceService(MPS)reportedthattheyhadidentifiedover250violentgangsandaround4000'gangnominals'(identifiedgangmembers)in19gang-affectedLondonboroughs.
Thenationalfigureisthoughttobeseveraltimesthisnumber.
Thesegangs,theMPSsuggests,rangefromorganisedcriminalnetworksinvolvedinClassAdrugdealingandfirearmssupply,tostreetgangsperpetratingviolenceandrobbery.
Thesegangsarethoughttoberesponsiblefor22%oftheseriousviolenceinthecapital,17%oftherobberies,50%oftheshootingsand14%ofrapes(MetropolitanPoliceService,2012).
However,while,in'gang-affected'neighbourhoods,policeofficers,professionals,adults,childrenandyoungpeopleappeartobelievethatviolentyouthgangsexist(Pitts,2008and2014),someacademicsremainsceptical.
Theyarguethatthestylisticdifferencesbetweencontemporaryyouthculturesandthoseofthepastnotwithstanding,thecontemporaryfuroresurroundingviolentyouthgangsisakintothe'moralpanics'whichattendedtheteddyboysinthe1950s,themodsandrockersinthe1960s,thepunksinthe1970s,thelagerloutsinthe1980sandsoon.
Theycontendthattheseperiodicexpressionsofpopularoutragetellusmoreabouttheanxietiesofanadultpublic,'opinionformers'andthemediathanthebehaviourofyoungpeople.
Forthem,themostimportanttaskBACKGROUNDTOTHEREPORT018Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondistoallaypopularanxietiesbypointingtohistoricalcontinuitiesbetweencontemporaryyouthculturesandthoseofyesteryear(Aldridgeetal,2008;HallsworthandYoung,2008;YouthJusticeBoard,2007).
Inthiscritique,criminaljusticeagenciesareseentodramatiseaproblemandstokepopularanxietiesinordertogainincreasedresourcesandgreaterpoliticalinfluence(Aldridgeetal,2008;Becker,1966).
Otheracademicsbelievethatthisdemonisationhasamoresinisterpurpose,arguingthatcurrentconcernsaboutviolentyouthgangsareorchestratedbythestate,itsagenciesandthemediainordertojustifyeverdeeperincursionsintoourfreedomsandevergreatercontroloverourlives(HallsworthandYoung,2008;MuncieandHughes,2002;Rose,1996;Simon,2001).
AcademicsassociatedwiththeEurogangProject(UniversityofMissouri-StLouis,2015)holdthatyouthgangsexistthroughouttheUKbut,unlikepopularNorthAmericanportrayals,theyhaveafluidmembership,porousboundariesandare,forthemostpart,engagedinonlyrelativelyinnocuousadolescentoffending(Aldridgeetal,2008;Klein,2008).
Forthem,theacademictaskconsistsofdemolishingunhelpfulstereotypes(Aldridgeetal,2008)andidentifyingthosepersonal,familialandenvironmentalcharacteristicsofgang-involvedyoungpeoplewhichsetthemapartfromothers,inordertodeveloptargetedinterventionprogrammes.
Itistruethathistoricalcontinuitiesexistbetweenyouthsubculturespastandpresentandthe,sometimesmisplaced,socialanxietiestheyengender(Pearson,1983),anditisalsotruethattherearemanyadolescentgroupsintheUK,characterisedbyfluidmembershipandporousboundaries,engagedinrelativelyinnocuousadolescentmisbehaviourthatareidentifiedas'gangs'(Klein,2007).
And,ofcourse,itisthecasethattheterm'gang'isusedindiscriminatelyinpopulardiscourse,themediaandthecriminaljusticesystemandthat,alltoooften,itsuseisstigmatisingandracist(cfAlexander,2008).
Whilethemediashouldbefarmorecircumspectinitsuseoftheword'gang',wenonethelessneedatermwhichdescribesthesegroupings.
DefiningthegangYoungpeoplesuspectedofganginvolvementaredescribedvariously,andofteninterchangeably,bythemedia,criminaljusticeandwelfareprofessionalsas:'gangmembers','gangassociates','gangaffiliates','ganginvolved'and'wannabees'.
Moreimportantly,fromapractitioner'sperspective,considerationofhowtheadoptionofoneparticulardefinitionmayimpactuponpolicyandpracticeandthereforethesubsequentprofessionalintervention,isuseful.
HallsworthandYoung(2008)offeradefinitionofthegangwhichdistinguishesitfromthepeergroupontheonehandandthecriminalbusinessorganisationontheother.
HallsworthandYoung'sThreePointTypologyofUrbanCollectivitiesThePeerGroup:Asmall,unorganised,transientgroupingoccupyingthesamespacewithacommonhistory.
Crimeisnotintegraltotheirself-definition.
TheGang:Arelativelydurable,predominantlystreet-basedgroupofyoungpeoplewhoseethemselves(andareseenbyothers)asadiscerniblegroupforwhomcrimeandviolenceisintegraltothegroup'sidentity.
TheOrganisedCriminalGroup:Membersareprofessionallyinvolvedincrimeforpersonalgainoperatingalmostexclusivelyinthe'grey'orillegalmarketplace.
Gordon(2000)offersamorenuanceddifferentiationbetweenostensiblysimilaryouthgroupings,allofwhicharesometimescolloquiallydescribedasgangs.
WhatGordon's,Vancouver-based,workalsosuggestsisthatdefinitionsmayhavetobespecifictoparticularcities,areasorneighbourhoodsiftheyaretobeuseful.
9Gordon'sFivePointTypologyofYouthGroupingsYouthmovements:Socialmovementscharacterisedbyadistinctivemodeofdressorotherbodilyadornments,aleisure-timepreference,andotherdistinguishingfeatures(e.
g.
punkrockers).
Youthgroups:Comprisingsmallclustersofyoungpeoplewhohangouttogetherinpublicplacessuchasshoppingcentres.
Criminalgroups:Smallclustersoffriendswhobandtogether,usuallyforashortperiodoftime,tocommitcrimeprimarilyforfinancialgainandmaycontainyoungandnotsoyoungadultsaswell.
Wannabegroups:Youngpeoplewhobandtogetherinalooselystructuredgroupprimarilytoengageinspontaneoussocialactivityandexciting,impulsive,criminalactivityincludingcollectiveviolenceagainstothergroupsofyouths.
Wannabeeswilloftenclaim'gang'territoryandadopt'gang-style'identifyingmarkersofsomekind.
Streetgangs:Groupsofyoungpeopleandyoungadultswhobandtogethertoformasemi-structuredorganisation,theprimarypurposeofwhichistoengageinplannedandprofitablecriminalbehaviourororganisedviolenceagainstrivalstreetgangs.
Theytendtobelessvisiblebutmorepermanentthanothergroups.
Criminalbusinessorganisations:Groupsthatexhibitaformalstructureandahighdegreeofsophistication.
Theyarecomposedmainlyofadultsandengageincriminalactivityprimarilyforeconomicreasonsandalmostinvariablymaintainalowprofile.
Thuswhiletheymayhaveaname,theyarerarelyvisible.
In2008,Pitts,onthebasisofresearchconductedinthreeLondonboroughs,devisedthefollowingdefinitionofastreetgang:Arelativelydurable,predominantlystreet-basedgroupofyoungpeoplewho(1)seethemselves(andareseenbyothers)asadiscerniblegroup,(2)engageinarangeofcriminalactivitiesandviolence,(3)identifywithorlayclaimoverterritory,(4)havesomeformofidentifyingstructuralfeature,and(5)areinconflictwithother,similar,gangs.
Pitts,2008In2012theMPSadaptedthisdefinition,inanattempttodifferentiatethegangfrompeergroupsandcriminalnetworks,tothemorecumbersome:Agroupofpeoplewhospendtimeinpublicplacesthatseethemselves(andareseenbyothers)asanoticeablegroup,andengageinarangeofcriminalactivityandviolence.
Theymayalsohaveanyorallofthefollowingfeaturesidentifywithorlayaclaimoverterritory,areinconflictwithother,similargangs.
However,ifthemajorityofoffendingisofalowernon-violentlevelthentheywouldbeconsideredapeergroupnotagang.
Acriminalnetwork(whichisdifferenttoagang)is:Agroupofindividualsinvolvedinpersistentcriminalityforsomeformofpersonalgain(thisincludesprofitand/ortogainordemonstratestatus)whichiscausingsignificantharmtothecommunity10Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondagroupthatkeepsbreakingthelawtomakemoneythislaw-breakingiscausingharmtothecommunityor,thislaw-breakingisaprobleminternationally(e.
g.
peopletrafficking)violenceisusedinordertomakemoney(e.
g.
toscarepeopleintogivingthemmoney)theyarerunninganillegalbusiness(e.
g.
drugtrafficking)ThisisthedefinitioncurrentlyusedbylawenforcementagenciesinEnglandandWales.
Thetaxonomybelow(Pitts,2014)endeavourstodescribethedifferentwaysinwhichyoungpeoplemaybeinvolvedwithagang.
ATaxonomyofDescriptorsofGangInvolvementGangAssociatedInteractingsociallywithgangmembersbydintofpropinquity,sharedhobbiesorpastimes,friendshipsorfamiliallinks(notnecessarilyillegal).
GangInvolvedINotbeingaconstituentmemberofagangorgroupornecessarilysubscribingtoitsnormsandvaluesbutintermittentlyco-optedtoparticipateinsomeofitsillegalactivities,sometimesknownasTiniesorGofers.
GangInvolvedIINotbeingaconstituentmemberofagangorgroupornecessarilysubscribingtoitsnormsandvaluesbutcoercedintoundertakingillegalactivitiesonitsbehalf.
WannabeesAspirants,whowhilesubscribingtothegang'snormsandvaluesandadoptingitsdresscode,signsandsymbols,havenotbeenacceptedintothegangandarenotinvolvedinitsillegalactivities.
GangAffiliatedAconstituent,lowerstatus,memberofagangorgroup;subscribingtoitsnormsandvaluesandparticipating,asa'footsoldier',sometimesknownasaYounger,initsillegalactivities.
GangMemberCorememberswithhighstatusinagangorgroup,subscribingtoitsnormsandvaluesandorchestrating,althoughnotnecessarilyparticipatingin,itsillegalactivities,sometimesknownasEldersorOlders.
Forthepurposesofthisreportwehaveused'ganginvolved'todescribethosewhoseresettlementneedswearedescribing.
Thatis,however,nottoexcludethepotentialofyoungpeopletomoveacrossandbetweenthesecategoriesatvarioustimesintheirengagementwiththeirpeersandthecriminaljusticesystem.
Wherewehaveneededtodifferentiateayoungperson'sactivityfromthisunderstandingwehavemadethisclearintherelevantsection.
Wemustalsoacknowledgethatmanyyoungpeopledonotrecognisethesedescriptionsasapplyingtotheirownexperienceofbeinginvolvedingangs.
ItwasjustpeoplethatIknow…peoplethatI'veseenroundmyareaforyears…andthenyoustarthangingoutwhenyougetabitolder…Thenyoubecomeclose…'ifyou'vegotonepound,I'vegotonepound'…thatwastherelationship.
19-year-oldfemale11Endinggangandyouthviolence:theEnglishgangstrategyTheEndingGangandYouthViolence(EGYV)report(MinistryofJustice,2011)publishedinNovember2011,wasthegovernment'sresponsetotheriotsintheAugustofthatyear.
Itwasbased,inpart,uponthedeliberationsofarapidlyconvenedInternationalForumonGangschairedbyTheresaMayandIainDuncanSmith,whichconcluded,erroneouslyasitlatertranspired,thattheriotshadbeenfermentedbyyouthgangswhosemembersweredrawnfromdysfunctionalfamilies.
Thereportprovidedtheblueprintforthegovernment'snationalgangstrategywhichtargeted33gang'hotspots'inEngland(afurthertenwereaddedin2014).
TheprogrammeraninparallelwithanewTroubledFamiliesTeam,headedbyLouiseCasey,thegovernment's'erstwhileAnti-SocialBehaviourTsar'.
Shewaschargedwith'turningaround'the120,000troubledfamiliesbelievedtoberesponsibleforthebulkofantisocialbehaviour,youthviolenceandgangcrimeinEnglandandWales.
Thetwo-yearprogrammewaslaunchedinJanuary2012.
Inmostofthesegang-affectedareastheinterventionstooktheformofprojectswhichtargetedthefamiliesofgang-involvedyoungpeopleand/orprogrammesthataimedtochangetheattitudesorenhancetheemployabilityorthementalhealthofactualorpotential'gangmembers'.
However,theEGYVprogrammewaslaunchedatatimeofseverecutstoyouthservicesanditsresourcesweredistributedlargelyonthebasisoftherecipients'ownestimationofwhetherornottheirexistinginterventionswere'working'.
Asaresult,ontheground,EGYV-fundedprovisiontendedtobedeterminedasmuchbylocalprofessionalandpoliticalinterestsasobjectiveassessmentsofthenatureanddimensionofthelocalgangproblem.
Furtherresearchfocusingonrecentchangesingang-relatedactivitiesacrossEGYVareas(DisleyandLiddle,2015)foundconsiderablevariationinestimatesofthesizeandnatureofthegangproblembypractitionersbothwithinandbetweenareas.
Thiswaspartlybecausepractitionersfromdifferentagencieswereusingsomewhatdifferentdefinitionsof'gang'butalsobecausetheywereworkingwithdifferentaspectsofthegangproblemanddifferentclientgroups.
Moreover,becausenosystematicbaselinemeasuresofganginvolvementandgangactivitywereputinplaceattheinceptionoftheEGYVprogramme,andbecausesomeofthemulti-agencypartnershipsestablishedtooverseetheprogrammewerenotsufficiently'joined-up',ithasbeendifficultforpractitionerstoassesstheimpactoftheirinterventions.
Asaresult,itremainsunclearwhethermoreyoungpeoplearebecominginvolvedingangs,whethergangsarebecomingmoreorlessnumerousandwhethergangcrimeisbecomingmoreorlessserious.
Mostrespondentsagreedthatthedefiningfeaturesofgangswereinvolvementindrugsmarkets,violenceandterritoriality.
Whiletheythoughtnationalityandethnicitywerelesssignificant,theynotedthatinmanygangs,membersweredrawnfromasingleethnicornationalgroupandcommonlyinvolvedmembersofthesamefamily.
Theresearchinvolvedinterviewswith30'currentorex-gangmembers'andtheyandthe15'keyinformants'interviewedsuggestedthat'gangmembership'washighlyfluidandthatgang-affiliatesmay:shifttheirallegiancesbetweengangsandthatgangscantakeonamoresolidformatacertainpointintimeandsplitintonewgroupsandsub-groups.
Practitionerswhoweresurveyedsuggestedthatgirlsandyoungwomenwereinvolvedingang-relatedcrime;storingdrugsorfirearms,orsettingupattacksonrivalgangmembers,buttheywerealsoawareoftheviolentandsexualexploitationofgang-associatedgirlsandwomen,probablyasaresultofrecentresearchinthisarea(cfBeckettetal,2013).
Retaliationanddrugdealingwerebelievedtobethemostcommonreasonsforconflictbetweengangs,sometimesleading'tocyclesofviolencespanningyears'andgang-relateddisputesincustodywerebelievedtofermentconflictinthecommunity.
Manyrespondentssaidthatgangswerelessvisiblenowthantwoyearsago;spendinglesstimeonthestreetinordertoavoidtheattentionsofthepolice,andthismaybeaneffectofthetargetedpolicingofgangsofthetypedevelopedbytheTridentGangCrimeCommand,establishedinLondonin2012.
12Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondMostrespondentsidentifiedbetweenthreeandeightgangsintheirareaalthough,confusingly,differentpractitionersfromthesameareareporteddifferentnumbers.
Mostbelievedthereweremorethan100gangmembersintheirareausuallyagedbetween15and24.
Manybelievedthattheagesofgangmembershadrisenovertheperiodbutthatthenumbersofgangshaddecreased,suggestingthatoutsideLondontheEGYVinterventionwashavinganimpact.
However,aminoritythoughtthatmorechildrenunder11wereganginvolvedcomparedwithtwoyearsago,echoingthefindingsofHarding'sstudyofgangsincentralLambeth(2014).
MostLondonrespondents,bycontrast,believedthatthenumberofgangshadincreasedintheprecedingtwoyears,thattheyhadmoreaffiliatesandthatahigherproportionofthemwere'older'(inLambeth,forexample,over50%ofthe'nominals'ontheborough'sgangsmatrixareover18withmanyintheir20sand30s).
Whereastheuseoffirearmsappearedtohavedecreasedoutsidethecapital,thiswasnotthecaseinLondon.
Manyrespondentsfeltthatgangswerebecomingbetterorganisedwhilesomehadbecomedefactocriminalbusinessorganisationsdealingdrugsintomarketsthroughoutthecountry.
Thismeantthatpreviouslyantagonisticgangsweremorelikelytocooperatethanwasthecasetwoyearsearlier.
Particularconcernwasexpressedaboutschool-agechildrenbeingusedas'mules'toconveythedrugstothepointsofsale.
Whenaskedtodescribethemainchangestheyhadobservedvis-à-visgangsovertheprecedingtwoyears,themajorityofpractitionersexpressedthefollowingviews:Insomeareas,particularlyLondon,gangswerebecomingbetterorganisedandhadcloserlinksintoorganisedcrimegroups.
That,partlyasaresultofthis,gangshadadiminishedstreetpresenceandlowervisibility.
Inotherareas,mainlyoutsideLondon,gangswerebecominglessstructuredandmorefragmented.
Therewasgrowinginvolvementofyoungerchildrenandtheexploitationofgirlsandyoungwomenwasbecomingmorefrequent,althoughthereasonsforthisperceivedincreaseremainsunknown.
CustodialtrendsThepolicycontextinwhichchildrenandyoungpeopleareincarceratedandresettlementoccursisarapidlychangingone(forfurtherdetailseeBatemanetal,2013;BatemanandHazel,2014a,2014band2014c).
Mostsignificantlyforcurrentpurposes,theyouthcustodialpopulationhasfallensharplyinrecentyearswiththedeclinebeingparticularlysharpforthoseagedunder18(BatemanandHazel,2014c).
Asaconsequence,thegroupthatcontinuestobeimprisonedislikelytohaveamoreseriousoffendingprofileandtodisplaymorecomplexneeds.
Forinstance,in2013/14,23%ofboysinYOIsreportedhavinganemotionalormentalhealthproblem,anincreaseoffourpercentagepointscomparedtothepreviousyear(Prime,2014).
Thechangingnatureofthecustodialcohortposesgrowingchallengesforthoseworkinginthesecureestateandresettlementproviders.
Asaconsequence,youngpeoplearemorelikelytoexperiencephysicalrestraintandsegregationwhileincustody,limitingtheiraccesstoconstructiveactivitieslikelytopromotesuccessfulresettlement(Prime,2014).
Inthiscontext,itisperhapsunsurprisingthattheimprisonmentofgang-involvedyoungpeopleisagrowingconcern.
In2013/14,forinstance,16%ofboysinYOIsreportedhavingexperienced'gangproblems'whentheyfirstarrivedattheestablishment(risingto21%forBMEyoungpeople).
ArecentinspectionofFeltham'A'YOI(whichholdsboysagedunder18)notedthat48gangswererepresentedintheestablishment(HMIP,2015)andtheproblemfortheyouthestateasawholewasdescribedas'seeminglyintractable'bytheChiefInspectorofPrisons(HMIP,2015).
ThisissueisacknowledgedasofincreasingrelevancebythecustodialestateandalmosthalfofboyssurveyedinYOIsreportedbeingaskedwhethertheyneededhelporsupportwithgang-related13difficulties(Prime,2014).
AninspectionreportofFeltham'B'YOI(whichaccommodatesyoungadultmales)creditedtheestablishmentwithhaving:Anappropriatefocusonthechallengespresentedbygangaffiliation…securityinformationwassharedwidelyandlinkswiththepoliceweregood.
HMIP,2015TheYouthJusticeBoardhasconfirmedthatitisinnegotiationsoverthepossibilityofsecondingpoliceofficerstoFeltham'A'tohelpdealwiththelevelsofviolenceaftertheapparentsuccessofasimilarpilotforyoungadultsinHMPandYOIISIS(Settyetal,2014).
Thefallsinyouthimprisonmenthavegeneratedreducedneedforcustodialcapacityleadingtosignificantreconfigurationsofthepenalestateandtheclosureofaconsiderablenumberofinstitutions.
TheYouthJusticeBoard,forinstance,recordedthatithaddecommissioned905custodialplacesforchildrenduring2013/14.
IthassubsequentlybeenconfirmedthatHindleyYOIandHassockfieldSecureTrainingCentrewhichtogetheraccountforafurther306placeswillclosein2015.
Provisionfor18-21yearoldswouldappeartobeincreasinglypiecemeal,withthisagegroupdetainedinawiderangeofinstitutions,includingYOIsthatholdyoungpeopleagedunder21,adultprisonswhereyoungadultsareheldinseparateyoungadultwingsandinstitutionswhereallprisonersovertheageof18aretotallyintegrated(BatemanandHazel,2014c).
Therearenow53dual-designatedcustodialestablishmentsthatarepermittedtoholdyoungadultsandadultswithinthesamefacility(PrisonReformTrust,2014).
Thisincreasingdiversityofprovisionhasbeenaccompaniedbyareductioninthenumberoffrontlineprisonofficers.
HMChiefInspectorofPrisonshasarguedthat:Itisimpossibletoavoidtheconclusionthattheconjunctionofresource,populationandpolicypressures,particularlyinthesecondhalfof2013-14andparticularlyinadultmaleprisons,wasaverysignificantfactorintherapiddeteriorationinsafetyandotheroutcomeswefoundastheyearprogressed.
HMChiefInspectorofPrisons,2014Fromtheperspectiveofresettlementofgang-involvedyoungpeople,thesedevelopmentspresentparticulardifficulties.
Dependingonageandlocation,gang-involvedyoungpeoplemaybeconcentratedinparticularestablishments,leadingtoapotentialreinforcementofgangidentity,andpressureonpreviouslyunaffiliatedyoungpeopletoalignthemselveswithparticulargroupstoenhancetheirownsafety,'resultinginaconstantjugglingtokeepboysapart'(HMIP,2015).
Otheryoungpeople,however,maybewidelydispersed,andplacedatconsiderabledistancefromhome,generatingtheprospectthatgangactivitymightbe'exported'toinstitutionslocatedawayfromareasthathavetraditionallybeenassociatedwithgangproblems.
Inrecentyears,governmentpolicyhasfocusedincreasinglyonresettlement,inrecognitionofthefactthatreoffendingfollowingreleasefromcustodyisconsistentlyhighforallagegroupsandforyoungpeopleinparticular(Bateman,HazelandWright,2013).
TheTransformingRehabilitationagenda(MinistryofJustice,2013)hassignificantimplicationsforthewayinwhichresettlementservicesaredelivered.
Aspartofthepolicy,thegovernmenthasannouncedtheestablishmentofanetworkof70resettlement(adult)prisons,eachofwhichwillbealignedtooneofthe21newlycreatedCommunityRehabilitationCompanies(CRCs)whichreplaceprobationtrusts.
CRCshavestatutoryresponsibilityforthesupervision,rehabilitationandresettlementofalloffendersassessedasbeinglowormediumriskand,intheresettlementcontext,areresponsiblefortheprovisionofserviceswithinresettlementprisonsandpostreleaseinthecommunity,ensuringadegreeofconsistencyandallowinga'throughthegate'response.
Theintentionisthatmostadults(includingallwomen)willbetransferredtoaresettlementprison14Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondtowardstheendoftheirsentenceintheareawheretheywillbereleased(MinistryofJustice,2013).
Theimplicationsofthedevelopmentofresettlementprisonsforyoungadultmalesaged18-21,whoareaccommodatedseparatelyfromolderprisoners,arecurrentlyunclearasthegovernmentisreviewingcustodialprovisionforthisagegroup(BatemanandHazel,2014a).
Moreover,theprovisionsdonotapplytochildrenbelowtheageof18whoaredetainedinadiscretesecureestate.
AnotherelementoftheTransformingRehabilitationprogrammerelatestothecircumstancesunderwhichshort-termprisonersaresubjecttostatutorysupervisiononrelease.
Section2oftheOffenderRehabilitationAct2014,implementedon1February2015,isdesignedtoensurethatallprisonersaged18orovershouldbesubjecttoaminimumofoneyearpost-custodiallicenceorsupervision.
Theamendmentswillnotaltertheperiodservedincustodybutwill,inmanycases,increasetheperiodduringwhichyoungpeoplearerequiredtocomplywithresettlementservicesoncetheyarereleased.
Theprovisionsarerelativelycomplexsincethestatutorysupervisiononleavingcustodytowhichyoungpeoplearesubjectdependsontheirageandthenatureofthesentenceimposed.
Asaconsequence,thechangesaffectdifferentyoungpeopleindifferentways,dependingupontheexistingarrangements.
Thetablebelowdetailsthesechanges.
WhoSentencelengthPriortochangesAfterchangesAdultprisonersaged18oroverTwoyearsorlongerReleasedatmidpointofsentence,subjecttolicenceconditionsuntilendofsentenceAdultprisonersaged21oroverBetween12monthsandtwoyearsReleasedatmidpointofsentence,subjecttolicenceconditionsuntilendofsentenceSubjecttoanadditionalperiodofstatutorysupervisionthatbeginsatendofsentenceandends12monthsafterreleasefromprisonLessthan12monthsReleasedatmidpointofsentenceunconditionallywithnolicenceconditionsorstatutorysupervisionSubjecttolicenceconditionsuntilendofsentence,subjecttoanadditionalperiodofstatutorysupervisionthatends12monthsafterreleasefromprisonAdultprisonersaged18-20Releasedatmidpointofsentence,subjecttolicenceconditionsforthreemonthsChildrenBetweenfourmonthsandtwoyearsReleasedatmidpointofdetentionandtrainingorder.
HalfisservedinasecureestateandhalfinthecommunityIftheyturn18duringtheirtimeincustodytheywillbesubjecttoaperiodofstatutorysupervisionfor12monthsafterreleasefromprisonInEnglandandWales,thereasonsforthesubstantialover-representationofblackyoungpeopleinYOIshavebeenhotlydebatedforseveraldecades(Pitts,1988).
AnanalysisconductedbytheMinistryofJustice(MOJ)in2012foundthat,forcomparableoffences,blackandAsiandefendantswerealmost20%morelikelytobesenttojailthantheirwhitecounterparts.
Moreover,theaverageprisonsentenceforblackdefendantswassevenmonthslongerthanforwhites(MinistryofJustice,2012).
15Althoughthenumberofchildrenincustodyhasfallensharplyinrecentyearsandthenumberofyoungadultshasalsoreduced,albeitrathermoreslowly(BatemanandHazel,2014c),theproportionoftheincarceratedpopulationfromaminorityethnicbackgroundhasbeenrisingsteadily.
ByApril2014BMErepresentationintheinstitutionswhichcomprisethesecureestateforchildrenandyoungpeoplehadreached39%(Bateman,2014;YouthJusticeBoard/MinistryofJustice,2014).
Muchattentionhasbeenfocusedonthedisproportionatenumbersofblackand/orMuslimmenwithinthecriminaljusticesystem.
Williams(2015)notesthattherepresentativesofcommunityorganisationsheresearchedfeelthatthepolicingofgangstendstofocusdisproportionatelyuponBMEyoungpeople,andthismaybeoneofthereasonsfortheirover-representationwithinthecriminaljusticesystem.
AstheYoungReview(Mullen,2014)notes,blackand/orMuslimoffenderswhohavebeenimprisonedhavepoorerpost-releaseoutcomesthantheirnon-Muslimandnon-whitecounterparts.
Thesefactscreatesignificantchallengesforprofessionalssupportingyoungmenfromthesecommunities.
AsMullenobserves:ThepositionofyoungblackandMuslimmeninsocietyisamplifiedbytheirexperiencesofactualandperceiveddiscriminationinprison,whichthenimpactupontheirself-imageandtheprocessofachievingdesistance.
Onreleasethecontinuedinequalitiestheyfaceinwidersocietyandthedeprivationwhichexistsinmanyofthecommunitiestheyreturntofurthercompoundsthis.
Mullen,2014WithfundingforthesocialinterventionelementoftheEGYVprogrammerunningoutandarenewedfocusonimprovingpracticeintheareasofenhancedprosecutionandjointenterprise,thisdisproportionalitycouldcontinuetogrow.
Mybrothertwoyearsagowasa…hebroughtabagwhichhadaguninittosomeoneandthatgun,hewasn'tactuallyatthecrimewhenthegunwasused,thegunwasusedtokillsomeoneinbroaddaylight,andaguylosthislifebecauseofmybrother'sinvolvement,OK.
Jointenterpriseisknowledge,presence,actions,anyoneofthosethreetheycanchargeyouunderthejointenterprise.
Mybrothergotchargedwithmurder.
Firstoffence,18years.
YoungmanwithahistoryofoffendingTheoreticalperspectivesandmethodologyThissectionoutlinessomekeyperspectivesthathaveinformedourthinkingaboutandapproachtotheworkandthemethodsandtoolsusedingatheringthedata.
1RehabilitationAsWardandMaruna(2007)haveobserved,untilrecentlytheriskfactormodelofrehabilitationhasbeentheprevalentmodeofinterventionwithincarceratedoffendersandthoseleavingcustody(Feilzeretal,2004;Gendreau,1996;Kratcoski,2004;VanVoorhis,CullenandApplegate,2004).
Theriskfactorparadigmhastendedtobeapplied,bydefault,totheresettlementofyoungpeople.
However,WardandMarunaarguethatthismodelhasseriouslimitationsbecauseofitsunderdevelopedtheoreticalbaseanditsemphasisonriskmanagementtothedetrimentofthedevelopmentofadifferentself-perceptionandthepromotionofpersonalagencyonthepartofthesubject.
Theythereforecommenda'strengths-based'GoodLivesModel(Ward,2015)because,ratherthanfocusingonlyonrisksandneeds,itconcentratesonsupportingthedevelopmentofanewidentity,enablingoffenderstoplayanactiveroleinthechangeprocess,whileconsideringtheextrinsicfactorswhichenableindividualstodesistfromcrime,andtheresourcestheywillneedtodoso.
Thisechoesotherresearchwhichindicatesthatdesistancefromfutureoffendingismostlikelytooccurif,onrelease,ayoungperson'sfamilysituationisstable,theyhavesomewheredecenttolive,they16Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondhavefulfillingworkyieldinganadequateincome,thatanysubstanceabuseproblemsareaddressedandthattheyhaveaccesstosocialnetworkswhichoffernon-criminalsocial,vocationalandrecreationalopportunities(Shaplandetal,2012).
2ThesocialfieldofthegangItsmanystrengthsnotwithstanding,liketheriskfactor-basedinterventionsitcriticises,theGoodLivesModel(Ward,2015)isconcernedprimarilywiththeattitudes,beliefs,anxietiesandaspirationsofindividuals,andthereforefailstoaddress,headon,theimpactofgangaffiliationonthemotivationandcapacityofindividualstodesistfromcrimeandassumeanactiveroleinthechangeprocess.
Thisisbecause,fortheincarceratedgangaffiliate,manyifnotmostoftheriskstheyface,aswellasthefactorsmilitatingagainstdesistance,areapropertyoftheenvironment,contextor'socialfield'fromwhichtheyhavebeenforciblyremovedbytheprocessofimprisonmentandtowhichtheywillalmostcertainlyreturn.
TheworkoftheFrenchsocialscientistPierreBourdieuhasbeeninfluentialinrecentgangscholarship(cfHagedorn,2008;Harding,2014;Pitts,2008;Wacquant,2004).
Bourdieu(1999)eschewsindividualisingexplanationsofhumandeviance,arguingthatbecausehumanbehaviourisprimarilytheproductofthesocialfieldsinwhichhumanbeingsareembedded,thesesocialfieldsmustbeanalysedindependentlyofthecharacteristicsoftheirinhabitants.
Socialfields,heargues,areshapedbythebroad'determiningstructures'ofclass,familyandethnicity,buttheirspecificformisdeterminedbythestrugglebetween'agents'antagonisticallyorientedtothesameprizesorvalues.
Thisstrugglecreatesstatushierarchies,'peckingorders',inwhicheachpositioninthehierarchyinducesasetofmotivationsthataresubjectivelyexperiencedas'whatshouldbedone'.
Thus,whatBourdieucallsthe'socialfate'ofindividualsissealedinlargepartbytheroledemands,whichtheyexperienceasachainofobjectiverequirementsplaceduponthem.
Youlearnitjustbyhangingaround.
.
.
Youknowwhatyouaresupposedtodoandnotsupposedtodoreally.
Justlikewhatyouareallowedtodoatschool.
Theydon'tevenneedtoexplainit.
Harding,2014Ifthisisso,itwouldsuggestthatrehabilitativeinterventionswithgang-involvedyoungpeopleshouldaddresstheindividual,theindividualwithinthegangandthegangwithinitssocialfield.
3Early-onsetyouthviolenceAsubstantialbodyofresearchidentifiestwoquitedifferentdevelopmentaltrajectoriesfortheemergenceofyouthviolence,onecharacterizedbythe'earlyonset'ofviolenceandtheotherby'lateonset'.
Childrenwhocommittheirfirstseriousviolentactbeforepubertyaregenerallydescribedastheearly-onsetgroup,whereasyoungpeoplewhodonotbecomeviolentuntiladolescenceareplacedinthelate-onsetgroup.
NorthAmericanresearchindicatesthatbetween20%and45%ofboyswhoareseriousviolentoffendersbytheageof16or17firstmanifestedthispenchantinchildhood(D'Ungeretal,1998;Elliottetal,1986;Huizingaetal,1995;NaginandTremblay,1999;PattersonandYoerger,1997;StattinandMagnusson,1996).
Ahigherpercentage,45to69%,ofgirlswhowereseriousviolentoffendersbytheageof16or17wereviolentinchildhood(Elliottetal,1986;Huizingaetal,1995).
However,mostviolentyoungpeopleonlybegintheirviolentbehaviourduringadolescenceandmanyseriousviolentoffenderscannotbeidentifiedinearlychildhood(LipseyandDerzon,1998;Loeberetal,2003).
Theseareparticularlypertinentfindingsforthedevelopmentofinterventionswithviolentyouthgangsbecausetheysuggesttwothings.
Firstly,asWikstromandLoeber(1997)foundinthePittsburghChildDevelopmentStudy,late-onsetviolenceislikelytobesituational,precipitatedbythesocialcircumstances17inwhichyoungpeoplefindthemselvesratherthanalatefloweringmanifestationofaninherentindividualcharacteristic.
Secondly,asHagedorn(1998),Pitts(2008),ShortandStrodtbeck(1974),Thornbury(1998)andXiaomingetal(2002)haveobserved,gangparticipationislikelytopromotethedistinctivefears,beliefs,attitudesandcriminalpathwayswhichleadthem,inexorably,towardsviolentcrime.
4MethodologyThisreportisbaseduponareviewoftheEnglishlanguageliteratureontherehabilitationofgang-involvedyoungpeopleagedbetween10and25.
Theinformationintheliteraturereviewisaugmentedbyapurposivesamplingstrategyofpolicyandpractitionerexperts.
Theliteraturereviewdeployedarangeofkeywordsandphrasesincludinggangs,gangsters,gangcrime,youthviolence,delinquentyouthgroups,desistance,rehabilitation,re-entry,resettlement,throughcare,parole,probationandsupervision.
Ithasaccessedscholarlyliterature,centralandlocalgovernmentreportsandpolicydocuments,andthepublicationsofrelevantquangos,non-governmentalorganisations,thinktanks,pressuregroups,penalreformorganisationsandchildren'scharities,aswellaspressreportsandarticles.
Thisstrategyaimstogatherdatafromidentifiedexpertswhocanfacilitateaccesstotheextensivesocialnetworkstowhichtheyare'gatekeepers'andprovideuniqueunderstandingsofaspectsofthesesocialmilieux,bydintoftherolestheyplayorhaveplayedwithinit,andilluminatethemeaningsofbehaviourthattheresearchermaynotunderstand.
Assuch,theseexpertsextendtheinvestigator'sreachinsituationswhereheorshehasnot,orcannot,beadirectobserver.
ThefieldworkwasdesignedbytheBYCteamandwasundertakenbetweenOctoberandDecember2014.
Allactivitywasconductedwithintherelevantethicalapprovalframeworksandallnecessarysafeguardswereinplace.
27professionalsattendedfocusgroupsinthesouth-eastandnorth-westofEngland.
ThesegroupsgavetheBYCteamanopportunitytosharefindingsfromtheliteraturereviewandidentifythechallengesfacedbypractitionersthatcouldbeexploredfurtherininterviews.
Semi-structuredinterviewswithresettlementprofessionalsandyoungpeoplewereconductedinsixsites.
Theyoungpeopleinvolvedwereeitherincustodyorhadservedcustodialsentencesforgang-relatedoffences.
Allnecessaryriskassessmentswereconductedtoensurethesafetyofthosewhoagreedtospeaktotheresearchteam.
Allthoseinterviewedinthecommunitywerecontactedviaresettlementprojectstheywereengagedwithtoensureappropriatefollow-upsupportwasavailableifnecessary.
19youngpeopleagedbetween16and25wereinterviewed,threeofwhomwerefemale.
Inaddition,eightinterviewswereconductedwithprofessionalsresponsibleforresettlementprogrammesbothincustodyandthecommunity.
Whereconsentwasgiven,interviewswererecordedandsubsequentlytranscribed.
Theinformationgainedwasthenusedtoaugmenttheliteraturereview.
Additionally,individualandprojectcasestudieshavebeendevelopedfromthedatagatheredandareincludedinthisreportandontheBYCwebsite.
18Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondEstablishedneighbourhoodgangstendtorecruitfromtheyoungersiblingsofgangmembersandtheirassociates.
Whilesomeyoungpeopleembraceandrevelinganginvolvement,othersareeitherambivalentorresignedtoit,seeingfew,ifany,realisticalternatives(Pitts,2008).
Indeed,theearliestUSgangstudiesbyFrederickThrasher(1927)foundthatgangswerebroughttogether,andheldtogether,byfearofthethreatposedbygangsfromotherneighbourhoods.
And,70yearson,DeckerandVanWinkle(1996)describehowthreatsfromtheneighbourhoodgang,andrivalgangs,servetoconsolidategangaffiliation.
TheevidencefrommostUKandNorthAmericanstudiesshowsthatyoungpeoplelivingingang-affectedneighbourhoodsarelikelytoknow,tohavegrownupalongside,tohaveattendedthesameschoolsandtoassociatewithyoungpeopleaffiliatedwithlocalgangs(AndellandPitts,2013;Beckettetal,2013;CentreforSocialJustice,2009;DeckerandVanWinkle,1996;Hagedorn,1998and2008;Harding,2014;Klein,2008;Pitts,2008;YouthJusticeBoard,2007).
Thiscloseassociationbetween'gangaffiliates'andotheryoungpeopleingang-affectedneighbourhoodsinevitablycreatesdifficultiesforresearchers,welfareprofessionals,thepoliceandprosecutors;partlybecauseganginvolvementcanbefluidandsporadic,butalsobecausedistinguishingbetweenyoungpeoplewhoassociatewith'gangmembers'andthosewhoare'gangaffiliated'andengageingang-relatedcrimeisnoeasytask.
InLondon,'gangnominals',asthepolicedescribethosetheysuspectofganginvolvement,areplacedonaborough-specificgangsmatrix.
Inclusiononthematrixisbaseduponarrestandconvictiondataandcorroboratedanduncorroboratedintelligence,aswellasmaterialfromsocialnetworkingsitessuchasYouTube,CCTVfootageandtelephonetraces.
However,asthepoliceacknowledge,identifying'gangnominals'isnotaprecisesciencebecausethematrixcapturesbothactivegangmembersandtheirnon-offendingassociatesandsiblingswhoareonthesystembydintoftheirproximityto,andfrequencyofassociationwith,gangmembersratherthancrimestheyhaveperpetrated(AndellandPitts,2013;Pitts,2014).
Thisresearch,andtheexperienceofprofessionalsworkinginthisarea,suggestthat,fromtimetotime,youngpeopleingang-affectedneighbourhoodswhoareunaffiliatedwiththegangsmaybepressurisedtoundertakeillegalacts,suchasholdingortransportingillicitdrugsandhidingweaponsortheproceedsofdrugsales(Beckettetal,2013;FraserandAtkinson,2014;Pitts,2008).
GangsandethnicityAlthoughtheavailabledatapointstoasignificantover-representationofblackandmixedheritageyoungpeopleinyouthgangsinLondon,itisalsothecasethatwhiteandAsianyoungpeoplesharingasimilarsocialandeconomicprofileandlivinginthesameneighbourhoodsaremorelikelytobecomeinvolved(Pitts,2008).
Thissuggeststhattheimpetustowardsgangmembershipisultimatelydeterminedbythespatiallocationandsocialpredicamentofgangmembersratherthantheirraceorethnicityperse(Flynn,2010;Pitts,2008;Short,1997).
Thissaid,murdersofyoungpeoplearedisproportionatelyhighinLondon'sblackcommunity(Fitzgerald,2009).
InhisstudyoftheconcentrationanddistributionpatternsofhomicidesinLondonbetween2000and2010,MarkJackson(2010)foundthatofthe2,382peopleaccusedofhomicideoffences,92.
7%weremales.
Ofthoseaccusedofhomicide,829werewhiteEuropean,1,041wereAfricanCaribbeanand304Asian.
746ofthevictimswerewhiteEuropean,566wereAfricanCaribbeanand222Asian.
AfricanCaribbeanmalesaccountedfor32%ofallvictimsbutthemostheavilyvictimisedsub-groupswereAfrican-Caribbeanmalesaged15to19.
GANGSINVOLVEMENTANDTHEGANG-AFFECTEDNEIGHBOURHOOD0219Thegang-affectedneighbourhoodGang-affectedneighbourhoodsarecharacterisedbyhighlevelsofyouthcrimeandvictimisation,lowfamilyincomes,highlevelsofunemployment,dependencyonmeans-testedbenefitsandlowlevelsofeducationalattainment.
Intheseneighbourhoods,gang-involvedchildren,youngpeopleandadultsarehighlyvisibleandseldomattempttohidetheiraffiliation.
Whilemostoftheresidentsintheseneighbourhoodsarenotinvolvedwithgangs,theirlivesareaffectedbythem.
RespondentsinterviewedinWalthamForestbyPitts(2008)andinLambethbyAndellandPitts(2013)spokeofgangsroutinelyintimidatinglocalresidentsand'terrorising'localyoungpeople.
Manyfamiliesintheseneighbourhoodswanttomovehome,butthepaucityofavailablesocialhousingmakesthisdifficult.
Somekeeptheirchildrenindoorsduringtheweekandtakethemtoplayorsocialisewithchildrenoutsidetheareaattheweekend.
Insomefamiliesthechildrenoryoungpeople'sganginvolvementhasprecipitatedariftinthefamily,meaningthattheycannolongerliveathome(Harding,2014;Pitts,2008).
Somefamiliesinformthe'authorities';thepolice,theschoolorthelocalauthoritysocialcaredepartmentabouttheirproblems,butsaythattheseagenciescanseldomoffersufficienthelporprotection.
Otherswouldliketoinvolvetheauthoritiesbutareconstrainedbyfearorfamilyloyaltyfromdoingso.
Somefeelpowerlessandcollapseintoapathyordepression.
Otherssimplymistrustthe'authorities'.
Othersareawareoftheirchild'sinvolvementbutconcludethatbeingacceptedintothegangisthesafestoptionforthem(AndellandPitts,2013;Pitts,2008;Youngetal,2014).
Itisalsothecasethatsomeparentsarethemselvesinvolvedinintergenerationalgangcrime.
Arespondentspokeof'KingPin'familiesinSouthLondonandfamilieswhoareinstigatingandbenefittingfromtheproceedsofgangactivities(AndellandPitts,2013).
Ayoungmaninterviewedforthisreporttoldtheresearcherthatthesamejudgehadsentbothhimandhisfathertoprisonfordifferentcrimesonthesameday.
ResearchbyFitzgibbonetal(2013)foundthattwothirdsofthegang-involvedyoungpeoplewerefromfamiliesheadedbyasingleparent.
Mostofthesefamiliessufferedfromoneormoreofthefollowingproblems:poverty,overcrowding,familyseparation,bereavement,mentalillness,familyconflict,domesticviolence,imprisonment,alcoholandsubstancemisuse.
Manyhadexperiencedviolenceinthehomeandseveralreportedhavingdifficultrelationshipswiththeirparentsorcarers.
Someappearedtobedrawnintoganginvolvementbecauseofthepriorinvolvementofanoldersibling.
Thisechoesotherstudiesofpathwaysintoganginvolvement(BRAP,2012;Pitts,2008).
Youngpeopleandsomeparentsbemoanedtheabsenceofastrongfatherfigureinthehomeandsomepractitionersfeltthatfamiliesfacilitatedgangmembershipbecausetheirchildrenwereoftenunsupervised,particularlywhenmotherswereworkinglonghours,andclearboundarieswerenotsetbyparents.
Theyalsosuggestedthatsomeparentswere'indenial'whiletheybelievedthatothersactuallyrecruitedtheirchildrenintogangsorbenefittedfromtheproceedsofgangcrime.
Itisnotclearwhetherthesesomewhatclichédperceptionsweresupportedbyanyevidenceandmostoftheyoungpeopledidnotsharetheseviews.
Infact,asAldridgeetal(2009)foundinManchester,manyyoungpeopleappearedtoleada'doublelife',hidingtheirganginvolvementfromtheirparents.
Parentswhoknewabouttheirchild'sganginvolvementandtriedtointervenewererarelysuccessful.
20Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondYouwillgetalotmorefunoutoflifeifyouarenotgangrelated,becauseyouarealwaysmiserable.
Nooneisreallyhappywithyou.
Yeah.
Andyouarealwaysavictim.
Peoplesay'NahIamnotavictim'.
Youarealwaysavictimbecauseyouarestandingthereonyourown,becauseyouarenotgoingtoselldrugswithsomeoneelse,becausethentheyaregoingtotakeyourmoney.
Soyouareonyourown.
Youareavictim.
17-year-oldmaleincustody.
Clearly,involvementingangs,orassociationwithgangmembers,increasesayoungperson'sriskofviolentvictimisation,particularlyiftheyareblack.
ResearchconductedinNorthAmericaindicatesthatevenshort-termganginvolvementcanhavedeleteriouslong-termeffects,includingincreasedriskofvictimisation,increasedcriminalinvolvement,truancyandschoolexclusionanddiminishedemploymentprospects.
MeldeandEsbensen(2011)foundthattheonsetofganginvolvementtendstobeassociatedwithasharpriseinayoungperson'sinvolvementincrime.
Thornbury(1998)describesthegangasan'escalator',takingyoungpeopletoanewandmoreseriouslevelofcriminalinvolvement.
Thus,whilethe'delinquentpeergroup'mayactasavehicleorcontextforthecommissionofoffences,theseverityofwhichisshapedbytheproclivitiesofindividualperpetrators,thegangfacilitatestheshifttodifferent,andfarmoreserious,levelsofcrimeandricherrewards(Gattietal,2005;KleinandMaxson,2006).
Thornberryetal(2003and2004)notethatthelongeranindividualisinvolvedingangs,themoreseveretheeffectbecomes,andthegreaterthedistancebetweenthegangmemberandhisorherconventionalpeers.
Moffitt(1993)describesthisasaprocessof'knifingoff',asthegangmembercutstieswithfamily,pro-socialpeersandschoolorcollegeinvolvementinfavourofparticipationinthe,usuallyillicit,activitiesofthegang.
Overtime,gang-affiliatedyoungpeople,particularlyiftheirbondstofamiliesandconventionalinstitutionsaretenuous,maydevelopadependencyuponthegangwhichwillbereinforcedbythethreatposedbyothergangs.
Itistheseyoungpeoplewhoaremostlikelytodevelopthedistinctivebeliefsandattitudes(Kennedy,2007;SampsonandLauritsen,1994),behaviours(Pitts,2008;ShortandStrodtbeck,1974),mentalhealthproblems(Xiaomingetal,2002),andcrimepatterns(Hagedorn,1998;Thornbury,1998)thatsetthemapart.
BowlingandPhilips(2006)arguethatsocialandeconomicexclusionandtheundeservedinjusticesexperiencedhistoricallybymembersoftheblackcommunitycangeneratefrustrationandrageamongstblackyoungpeoplewhich,Kennedy(2007)argues,helptopromotenormsandnarrativessupportiveofgangviolence.
Short(1997)arguesthat,overtime,thesenormsandnarrativesfoster'alternativecognitivelandscapes'developingwhatissometimescalledasoldiermentality,characterisedbyaheightenedsensitivitytothreatandaconstantpreparednessforaction(SampsonandLauritson,1994)iftheseyoungpeoplecometobelievethatthosearoundthemmaybeendeavouringto'disrespect'them.
Shortwrites:Outofconcernforbeingdisrespected,respectiseasilyviolated.
Becausestatusproblemsaremixedwithextremeresourcelimitations,people–especiallyyoungpeople–exaggeratetheimportanceofsymbols,oftenwithlife-threateningconsequences…Theseconsequencesareexacerbatedbythewidespreadbeliefthatauthoritiesviewblacklifeascheap,hardlyworththeirattention.
Thisviewisreinforcedwhenblack-on-whitecrimereceivesmoreattentionbyauthoritiesandbythemediathandoesblack-on-blackcrime.
Theresultisthatpeoplefeelthrownbackontheirownlimitedresources.
Theyarm,takeoffence,andresistinwaysthatcontributetothecycleofviolence.
THEEFFECTSOFGANGINVOLVEMENT0321Inthesecircumstances,asShort(1997)hasargued,widerculturalvaluesbecomeunviableandthis,asDeckerandVanWinkle(1997)havedemonstrated,tendstoisolategangmembersfromthesocialandculturalmainstreamtotheextentthattheycanonlyfeelasemblanceofsafetywithintheneighbourhoodgang.
FactorssustainingganginvolvementHowever,unlikeadolescentpeergroups,whosemottomightbeallforoneandoneforall(Dumas,1844)theviolentyouthgangisanessentiallyexploitativeentityrivenbysuspicionandrivalry(Beckettetal,2013;Pitts,2008).
Theirmotto,coinedoriginallybySunTzu,authorofOntheArtofWar(400BC)couldbekeepyourfriendsclosebutyourenemiescloser.
Thus,fearofoutsidersandsuspicionofinsidersarethepushfactorswhichholdthegangtogether.
Buttherearealso'pull'factorswhichreinforceganginvolvement(Densley,2013).
Oneistheperceiveduntouchabilityoftheprotagonistsbecause,whilemostadultresidentsingang-affectedneighbourhoodsareawareofgang-relatedcrimeandviolence,mostareunlikelytointerveneorreportittothepoliceforfearofreprisal;believingthatthepoliceandthecourtsareprobablypowerlesstostopit(Beckettetal2013;Harding,2014).
Therisksnotwithstanding,ganginvolvementcanberewarding,offeringinclusion,protection,'respect',statusand,sometimes,agreatdealofmoneybecauseforsome,itcanopenupaccesstolucrativerolesinillicitdrugdistributionandlinksintocriminalbusinessorganisations(Densley,2013).
WhenIwaswithagangIfelttheurgetomakemoney,toselldrugs,togetallthefemales.
'Causethat'swhatyouget.
You'reahoodcelebrity,theycallit.
Sowhenyougettheurgetoselldrugsthat'swhenyougotoareaslikeBradfordoroutoftown,yousee.
SoIwouldgotoPortsmouthandselldrugsthere.
21-year-oldmaleInhisthree-yearstudyincentralLambeth,Harding(2014)foundthatanappearanceoffluidityanddisorganisationmaskedahierarchicalstructurewithwell-troddencareerpathwaystobothrespectandmoney.
Typically,hewrites,theyhaveahierarchicalstructure,comprisingfourage-relatedtiers,whichoffersanillegitimateopportunitystructureforthosewiththenerveandtherequisiteskillstooccupytheseroles(ClowardandOhlin,1960):1Tinies(aged10to13)(run-arounds/gofors)2Youngers(aged13to16)(footsoldiers)3Olders(aged16to21)(strategists)4Elders(agedapproximately22to30+)(middlemarketdrugwholesalers)Clearlythen,the'gangproblem'isnotsimplyateenagephenomenonandaroundhalfofthe'gangnominals'identifiedbytheMPSareover18.
ArecentstudybyCoidetal(2013)surveyed4,664menaged18andoverandfound,thatamongstotherthings,inHackney,8.
6%ofadultmalerespondentsacknowledgedsomeformofgangaffiliationwhichmeans,theauthorssuggest,thatoneinfiveblackmenintheareaareganginvolvedinsomeway.
Forgang-involvedyoungmen,thegangalsooffersmoreorlessunrestrainedaccesstoyoungwomenwhobelievetheirstatusandpopularitywillbeenhancediftheyhavesexwithgangmembersandotherswhowillbeunwillingtoreportthesexualoffencescommittedagainstthemforfearofreprisals(Beckettetal,2013;Firmin,2011).
22Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondAlthoughfewergirlsandyoungwomenareinvolvedingangsthanboysandmanyofthemareinvolvedonlyrelativelybriefly(Smith,2005),thedamagingeffectsofganginvolvementmaystaywiththemforalongtime.
Whencomparedtogang-involvedyoungmen,gang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomenmayhavedifferentlevelsofinvolvement,differentmotivationsforinvolvementandmaycomefromdifferentsocialcircumstancesandbackgrounds.
AsFirmin(2009)hasobserved:Womenwhoareinvolvedingangscanoccupyanumberofroles,including:perpetrators…victims…partners…(and)canbetargetedbygangs.
Womenassociatedwithrivalgangscanalsobetargetedwithviolence(includingrape);andassociates:partners,sistersandmothersmightbeinvolvedwithhidingdrugsandweapons,washingblood-coveredclothing,etc.
Evenwheretheyhavenoformalinvolvement,partnerscanserveto'glamorise'gangmembers,andtoputpressureonthemtoprovidethematerialwealthassociatedwithcriminalbehaviour.
However,inrealitygang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomenmayberequiredtocarryorconcealguns,drugsandmoneyandalsotoselldrugs.
Iftheyarearrested,robbedbygangrivals,orotherwisefail,theycanexpectviolentretribution.
Researchalsoindicatesthatgang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomenareatconstantriskofsexualviolenceandexploitation(AndellandPitts,2013;Beckettetal,2013;Firmin,2011).
Whilstthesestudieshavefocusedontheincreasedvictimisationofgirlsandyoungwomenassociatedwithgangs;thereislittlesaidaboutrehabilitationperse.
Recentstudiesofgang-associatedsexualviolenceundertakenbyBeckettetal(2013),Firmin(2009and2011)andHarding(2014)suggestseven,oftenoverlapping,rolesplayedbygang-involvedwomenandgirls:1Wifeys:girlfriendswhooccupyahighstatusbyvirtueoftheirrelationshipwitha'topboy'inthegang.
2OutofAreaGirlfriends:whomaybemiddleclassand/oruniversitystudentswhommalegangmembersbelievegivethemgreaterstatus,whiletheyoungwomenmayenjoythisbrief'walkonthewildside'butarevulnerabletoreprisalattacksbytheenemiesoftheirpartners.
3Links:girlsandyoungwomenagedasyoungas12whoareexpectedtohaveindividualandgroupsexwithgangmembers.
4BabyMothers:whowillhaveborneachildtoamalegangmember,enjoyacertainlevelofprotectionunlesstheyattempttoendtherelationship.
5GangsterGirls:areengagedinthesameillicitactivitiesandviolenceastheyoungmenanddonothavesexualrelationshipswiththem.
6FamilyMembers:mothersorsistersofmalegangmembers,whodonotnecessarilyhavearoleinthegangbutmaybevulnerabletoreprisalattacksbytheenemiesoftheirpartners,sonsorbrothers.
7Set-upGirls/'chicks':maybeinvolvedwithhighstatusmembersofseveralgangs,althoughtheyarenotaffiliatedtoanyofthemandmaybepaidorrewardedinsomeotherwaytoluremembersofrivalgangsintoambushes.
GIRLS,YOUNGWOMEN,SEXANDTHEGANG0423Iwasmixingwithguyswho,basically,sexuallyexploitedme,andIwouldsaytheysexuallyexploitedmenotbecausetheywerehavingsexwithme.
Idon'tevenmeanthatcontext,buttheywoulduse…it'salmostliketheyknowthatyou'reinnocentbutyou'renotinnocent.
Sothey…theyusethat,andIusedtoholddrugs,guns,anythingthatthey'daskmetodoforabitofmoneyIwoulddoit.
24-year-oldfemalereleasedin2014Theroleayoungwomanoccupieswillhavealinktotheriskofvictimisationshefaces.
Oftenayoungwomanwillmovebetweenrolesveryquicklyandsuddenlyfindherselfatargetofviolence.
StudiesofgirlsandyoungwomenwhobecomeinvolvedwithviolentyouthgangsconductedinNorthAmericasuggestthatmanyofthosewhobecomeseriouslyinvolved,asdistinctfromthosewhoarelightlyengagedorjust'passingthrough',havebeensubjecttoparentalneglectandmayhavesufferedpsychological,physicalandsexualabuseathome,schoolorelsewhere(Miller,2009).
Fortheseyoungwomenthegangappearstoofferanalternativeto,andpossiblyprotectionfrom,adifficultorabusivefamilysituationandthepromiseof'real'friendship,appreciation,popularity,excitementandmoney.
AstheworkofBeckettetal(2013)andFirmin(2011)suggests,forgirls,joiningthegangtendstobeaprocessof'seduction'ratherthan'coercion',sometimesfollowinginthefootstepsofanoldersister,ormoreoften,anolderbrother,whoisalreadyagangmember;orstartingarelationshipwithagang-involvedboyoryoungman.
However,theprotectioncitedasareasonforbeinginvolvedwiththegangisoftenmisplacedastheseyoungwomenbelievethattheirgang-involved'boyfriend'willlookafterthemandremainloyal.
Withingangstheydon'ttreatwomenaswomen.
They'rejustobjects.
.
.
You'vegottounderstandlikegirls,tomalesingangs,arecommodities.
They'rejustlikegoingandpickingapairofshoesofftheshelfandputtingthemon.
.
.
thegirlsarenotthatspecialtothem,buttheyhavetohave'emaround.
They'reeasycome,they'reeasygo.
Asquickastheyfoundher,iftheywent,they'dfindsomeoneelse.
Beckettetal,2013Whetherganginvolvedornot,girlsandyoungwomenlivingingang-affectedneighbourhoodsarealsoatheightenedriskofsexualvictimisation.
AsayoungwomanfromanestateneartheElephantandCastleareaobserved:Onmyestatetherearetwokindsofgirls,thosewhoareinvolvedwithgangsandaresexuallyabusedbymalegangmembersandthosewhoarenotinvolvedwithgangsbutareafraidthattheycouldbesexuallyabusedbymalegangmembers.
AndellandPitts,2013ThenormalisationofsexualviolenceandabuseSomeyoungergirlsandyoungwomenappearnottorecognisetheseriousnessofthesexualviolenceorexploitationtowhichtheyaresubjected.
Firmin(2009)writesofanincidentinwhichaparticularlyattractiveyoungwomanwas'given'toarivalgangtosettlea'beef'.
Farfromfeelingenslaved,thisapparentlymadeherfeel'tremendouslyimportantandpowerful'.
Othergirlsandyoungwomendorecognisetheseriousnessoftheirsexualvictimisationbutwillrarelyreportitbecausetheybelievethatthe'authorities'areunabletokeepthem,ortheirfamilies,safefromviolentretribution.
Beckettetal(2013)foundthatonlyonein12youngpeoplefeltthatsomeoneoftheiragewouldbelikelytoreport,ortalkabout,experiencesofsexualviolenceorexploitation.
Wheretheydidchoosetotellsomeoneabouttheirexperiences,thiswouldmostoftenbetoapeerratherthananyoneinapositionofauthority.
24Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondThisissupportedbytheearlierstudywhereRadfordetal(2011)notethatlikelihoodofreportingsexualviolencedecreasessignificantlyifperpetratedwithapeer,with83%ofthosewhoexperiencedsexualviolencefromapeernottellinganyone,comparedto34%ofthoseassaultedbyanadult.
ArecentreportforVictimSupport,conductedbytheUniversityofBedfordshire(BeckettandWarrington,2014),identifiedanumberofinter-relatedinfluencingfactorsastowhyyoungpeopledonotreportcrimetothepolice,theyare:1understandingofwhatconstitutescrimeandvictimisationandhowtoreportthis2thecontextinwhichthecrimeorvictimisationoccurs3risksassociatedwithreporting4perceptionsofvictimhood5perceptionsandexperiencesofthepoliceAsBeckettandWarrington(2014)identified,researchstudieshavealsoevidencedthepotentialforseriousphysicalriskinretaliationfor'grassing'or'snitching'.
Thiscanincludeexperiencesofseriousphysicalassault,rapeorothersexualharmwhereayoungpersonhasreportedtotheauthoritiesratherthanadheretothegroupnormsofsilence(Beckettetal,2013;Firmin,2011;MetropolitanPoliceAuthority,2008;OwenandSweeting,2007;Yates,2006).
Unsurprisingly,suchharmhasbeennotedtoaffectnotonlytheyoungpersonwhobroketherulesofengagement,butalsotheirsiblingsorotherfamilymembers.
Indeedthefearofpotentialharmtoothersisoftenamoreeffectivesilencingmechanismforchildrenandyoungpeoplethanthreatstooneself(Beckettetal,2013;Firmin,2011;MetropolitanPoliceAuthority,2008).
Forgang-involvedyoungwomen,therisksassociatedwithreportingareextremelygreat:Letmegiveyouanexampleofwhypeopledon't[gotothepolice].
Becauseifyougotothepolicestationandsay'thisgangmemberrapedme'thatgangmembermightbefoundguiltyandgotojail,butrememberhe'spartofagang.
Soalltheonesinthegang,500people,400people,willcomebacktoyou,toyourhouse.
Couldgotoyourfamily'shouse,youknow.
Soyoumightaswellkeepitonthelowandmoveonwithyourlifeinnit.
.
.
Ifyougotothepolice,that'sthewrongmove.
That'stheworstthingapersoncoulddo.
.
.
It'llcomeback'causewithgangsterstheygottowininnit.
Theynevergiveup.
17-year-oldfemaleBeckettetal,2013Sexting,socialmediaandthegangTherehasbeenmuchdiscussionaround'sexting'inrecentyears;inaChildlinesurvey(2013)threeoutoffiveyoungpeopleaged13-18saidtheyhadbeenaskedtosendasexualimageorvideoofthemselvesandtwooutoffivehaddoneso.
'Sexting'isfairlywidespreadamongstgang-involvedyoungpeople,andwhilesomeyoungwomenarenotnecessarilyawarethattheyarebeingfilmed,someotherswhoare,seemtohavelittleunderstandingofitslikelyconsequences.
OneinfivechildabuseimagesreportedtotheChildExploitationandOnlineProtectionCentrein2012wereself-generatedimages,butthevastmajorityofthese(88%)hadbeentakenfromtheiroriginallocationanduploadedsomewhereelse(Jutteetal,2014).
Thissuggestshowquicklyyoungpeoplecanlosecontroloverthedistributionoftheirimages.
SomeprofessionalsinterviewedinLambeth(AndellandPitts,2013)believedthatariseintheincidenceofsexualharassmentinschools,groupsexualassaultsandgang-associatedsexualviolencewasaproductofamisconceptionabouthow'gangstas'shouldconducttheirsexualrelationships,becausemuchoftheirinformationwasgleanedfromcommercialmediaand'pornsites'.
Researchsuggeststhatthis'sexualisation'or'pornogrification'ofyouthcultureperpetuatestheassociationbetweenmasculinityandpredatorysexualprowess,therebyjustifyingsexualviolence(Coy,2009).
25SexualharassmentandgroominginschoolsSomepoliceofficersinSouthLondonsaidtheybelievethat,like'sexting',thelow-level,butroutine,sexualharassmentofschoolgirlsisagrowingproblem.
Severalsuggestedthattheschoolwasoneofthemainplaceswhereslightlyoldergang-involvedyoungpeople,mainlyboysbutalsosomegirls,'groomed'younger,morenaiveandvulnerablegirls,inordertoinvolvetheminsexualactivitywithgang-involvedboys.
Theseyoungwomenareoftenidentifiedand'groomed'atschoolbygangaffiliatesusingprotestationsofloveandaffectionandpromisesofgifts.
Sexisveryimportanttogangmembersandthefrequencywithwhichandthenumbersofgirlswithwhomtheyareabletohavesexarekeycomponentsoftheir'streetcapital'andtherespecttheyenjoy(Harding,2014).
Professionalssuggestthatthechildrenmostlikelytobedrawnintotheseinsidioustransactionsarenotnecessarilyabusedorneglected,butcomefromhomeswhereparentsareunderthegreatestemotionalandfinancialpressure,oftenworkinginseverallow-paidjobstokeepthefamilytogether,withlittletimetosupervisetheirchildren'sleisure.
Thevulnerabilityofgang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomentoviolenceLowstatusgang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomen('links','skets','slags')areparticularlyvulnerablebecause,whereastheyoungmenhaveastrongsenseoffatalism,tendingtobelievethattheyhavenoalternativebuttobeinvolved,theythinkthattheyoungwomenhave'chosen'toputthemselvesintothisriskysituationvoluntarily.
Inthisway,theseyoungwomenarebothharmedandblamedfortheirpredicament.
Asaresult,malegangmemberstendtobeindifferenttotherisksthattheyoungwomenface.
Whereasgang-involvedyoungmenwouldprotectanddefendtheirmotherorsister,theywouldnotnecessarilyprotectgang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomenbecausemostoftheserelationshipstendtobefairly'casual'andifsomething'bad'happenedtothesegirls,theyoungmenwouldtendtothinkitwasnottheirproblem.
Anothergroupvulnerabletoviolentattackarethedaughtersofhighstatus'firstgeneration'malegangmembersservinglengthyprisonsentences.
Thesehighstatusyoungwomenmaybethetargetsofvendettasagainsttheirfathersandthereforeneedtoremainganginvolvedinordertoreceivetheirprotection.
Sistersofgangmembersarealsotargetedbyrivalgangs.
Thesexualattitudesofgang-involvedyoungmenExploitativesocialandsexualrelationshipsappeartobeadefiningcharacteristicof'streetculture',whichisreinforcedbythemisogynisticlyricsofgangstarapandtherappingand'spitting'producedbygang-involvedyoungmenonYouTubeandothersocialnetworkingsites.
Thismeansthatgang-involvedyoungmenareundercontinualpressuretodemonstratetheirsexualprowessandthiscanmeanthattheywillsometimesengageingroupsexualactivityorassaults,'line-ups',eveniftheydonotwantto,forfearoflosingfaceandmakingthemselvesvulnerabletoattackorrejectionbytheirpeers.
Somemaleprofessionalsinvolvedwithgangsappeartobeunawareofthecomplexitiesoftheseencounters,sometimesassumingtheyoungwomenaresimplymakingill-informedchoicesandthattheyoungmenarewillingparticipants(AndellandPitts,2013).
Insomegang-affectedtownsandcitiesinEngland,thelastdecadehaswitnessedafragmentationofolder-establishedgangsandtheproliferationofyounger,moreanarchicones.
Thesenewgroupingsappeartobelessconcernedwiththeacquisitionofwealthandmoreconcernedwithbuildingareputationforextremeviolence.
Thistransitionhasparalleled,andbeendrivenby,aprocessinwhichlocalgangtraditionshavebeensupplantedbya'bricolage'ofelementsabsorbedfromaglobalisedgangculturemediatedviafilm,theinternet,musicandcomputergames(ValkenburgandPeter,2007;WeitzerandKubrin,2009).
Assuch,thisnew,synthetic,'gangsta'culturetends,necessarily,towardscaricatureandexaggeration(Hagedorn,2008).
26Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondDemonstrationsofhyper-masculinity(Young,1999)throughgroupsexualassault(MetropolitanPoliceService,2011)andgang-associatedsexualviolence(Beckettetal,2013;Firmin,2011)arecentralelementsofthisnewsynthetic/authentic,hyper-real,wayofdischargingthe'gangsta'role.
Thisiscompounded,someargue,bythetidalwaveofreadilyaccessiblepornographyavailableontheinternet(Flood,2009)andthecapacityofindividualstogeneratehome-grownversionsofthisvia'sexting'(Ringroseetal,2012).
This'sexualisation'or'pornogrification'ofcultureingeneral,and'gangsta'cultureinparticular,perpetuatestheassociationbetweenmasculinityandpredatorysexualprowesswhich,asCoy(2009)observes,justifiessexualviolenceandexploitation.
Dependsonwhatkindofnameshehas.
Ifshehasanameandsomeonetriestosleepwithherandshewon'tletthem,andtheyknowthatshe'ssleptwithloadsofotherpeople,they'llforceherintoit.
Theywouldrapeher,ifyouclassthatasrape.
21-year-oldmaleBeckettetal,2013TheMPSdefines'gangrape'(GroupSexualAssault,GSA)as'asexattackbythreeormorepeople'.
AstudybyScotlandYard'sOperationSapphire,whichinvestigatessexcrimes,revealedthatin2008/09,theMPSrecorded93'gangrapes'comparedwith36in2003/04.
Moreover,thenumberofattacksinvolvingfourormoreattackersappearstohavegrownovertheperiodwhiletheaverageageofvictimsfell.
In1998/9948%ofvictimswereunder19,whereasby2008thisproportionhadrisento64%,and36%wereunder15.
Theproportionofwhitevictimsfellfrom69%in1998/99to50%in2008.
Duringthesameperiod,theproportionofblackvictimsrosefrom17%to34%.
ThisrisehasledtheMPStomapthegirlsandwomenassociatedwith'gangnominals'inanattempttoprovideadviceandprotectiontothosewhomaybedeemedtobeatrisk.
In2008/0942%ofsuspectswereagedunder19comparedwith38%in2003/04.
8%ofthemwereidentifiedaswhite,32%asblackand24%as'differentethnicities'.
Theethnicityoftheremaining36%isunknown.
TheissuesforgirlsandyoungwomenwhoareganginvolvedechomanyoftheconcernsandrecommendationsraisedintheBYCresearchreportontheresettlementofgirlsandyoungwomen(BatemanandHazel,2014d).
Notwithstandingthesesimilarities,itiscrucialthatprovidersofresettlementservicesareawareayoungwomanreleasedfromcustodymayhavebeencoercedintocommittingtheoffencewithwhichshewaschargedandmaywellhavebelievedthathadshenot,shemayhavebeenthevictimofsexualandphysicalviolence.
Thetraumaassociatedwithhertimeincustodyneedsaddressinguponreleaseandpossiblyforalongwhileafterwards.
Theprinciplesinformingtheseresettlementservicesemphasisethattheyshouldbestrengthsbasedratherthandeficitbased,culturallyrelevantandgenderspecific,particularlyindealingwithsexualassaultandabuse(Miller,2009;Totten,2009).
Moreover,programmesshouldrecognisevariationsinyoungwomen'sagesandlevelsofganginvolvement.
Researchalsosuggeststhatinterventionstrategiesshouldberesponsivetodiversityofneedandexperienceamongfemalegangmembers,withaparticularsensitivitytoethnicandculturaldifferences.
27Shelleywascommittingcrimefromtheageof11,butgotcaughtat14.
Shewassellingdrugsforanolderassociate,andowedhim200pounds.
Hethreatenedtoshootherifshefailedtodeliverhismoney.
Inordertofindthemoneyquickly,shestolemobilephoneswhichcouldbesoldon.
Shelleywasarrestedandfoundherselfthesubjectofelectronicmonitoring,'ontag'.
Iwasyoung,dumb,hangingroundwithfriends…I'mcool,I'mbiggerthanyou…andthenyougetarrestedandI'm,like,'wait,holdon'…andthenIstoppedcommittingcrimes.
Whilstundertheyouthoffendingteam(YOT)'ssupervision,Shelleydidn'tbreachhertagandlivedwithinthelawforacoupleofyears.
Then'thingsstartedhappening'toher.
Herfamilylifebecamevolatile,herhomewasnolongerasafeplace,andsheleft.
Nowhomelessandunabletoreturntoherparents'house,Shelleyhadnoincomeorsecurity.
Sheturnedtothepeopleshecalledfriendsforsupport.
Together,theysurvived.
…whenyouhavenofood…andnoonereallywantstohelpyou…whatareyougonnado…ifyou'renotthinkingcorrectlyorifyou'rereally,reallydesperate…Idunnohowtoexplainit…'Idon'tknowwhereI'msleepingtonight'…it's,like,'I'msosorry,Ihavetoeat'…tobehonest,like,'it'syourphone,it'snottheendoftheworld'.
Afterayearofmakingendsmeetviacrime,Shelleywasarrested.
At17,shewasplacedintothecareofsocialservices.
Shewashousedaloneandmilesawayfromhome;theonlyplaceavailable.
Shelleyfoundthesituationdifficulttomanage.
Peopleshethenconsideredtobeherfriendswereabusingher,andshehadnowheretoturn.
…Itriedtoturntosocialservices,Ididn'thaveanyfamily…allI'mdoingiscommittingcrimes…'youowemoney,goandcommitsomecrimes'…IknewIwasgoingtogotojail…therewasatimebeforeIwentin,thatIwantedtogotojail…itneededtohappen,basically.
Afterrobbingsomeoneatknifepoint,Shelleyfoundherselfinprisonjustshyofher18thbirthday.
I'msittinginjail…andthenIwas,like,'youknowwhat,thisisn'tme'…Ineededtoimprovemylife,andIneededtomakeastepforward.
Oncereleased,Shelleywaskeentomakeupforlosttime.
Despitefeelingletdownbyserviceprovidersinthepast,Shelley'scaseworkerfoundherkeentoengage:'shewantedtoturnherlifearound'.
Shelleyrecognisesthatshemadebadchoices,andisdeterminednottoreoffend:…sometimesyoudon'tmakethebestchoice,becauseyouthinkit'syouronlychoice…thenyouhavetopaytheprice…that'swhatyouhavetodo,andthenyoutryandcomeoutandbetteryourself,becauseyoudon'twannagobackthere.
Shelleyiswaitingforsocialservicestofindherahome.
SHELLEY'SSTORY28Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondInhisbookDeadlySymbiosis(2004)LoicWacquantwrites:Alongwithracialdivision,thepredatorycultureofthestreet,centredonhypermasculinenotionsofhonour,toughness,andcoolnesshastransformedthesocialstructureandcultureofjailsandprisons.
The"convictcode",rootedinsolidarityamonginmatesandantagonismtowardsguardshasbeenswampedbythe"codeofthestreet",withitsardentimperativeofindividual"respect"securedthroughthemilitantdisplayanddemonstratedreadinesstometeoutphysicalviolence.
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Today'sprisonfurtherresemblestheghettoforthesimplereasonthatanoverwhelmingmajorityofitsoccupantsoriginatefromtheracializedcoreofthecountry'smajorcities,andreturnthereuponrelease—onlytobesooncaughtagaininpolicedragnetsandsentawayforever—longersojournsbehindbars,inaself-perpetuatingcycleofescalatingsocioeconomicmarginalityandlegalincapacitation.
WacquantiswritingaboutdevelopmentsintheUSAwhich,heargues,haveprisonizedtheghettoandghettoizedtheprison.
Thisisanimportantobservationbecause,ifthegang-affectedneighbourhoodislockedintothistypeofdeadlysymbiosiswiththeprisonorYOI,thenanyrealisticresettlementprogrammemusttargetbothsimultaneously.
Inthissense,gangresettlementwork,likeresettlementofyoungpeoplewithnogangaffiliations,shouldbeseenasaprocessthatfollowsyoungpeople'sjourneysthroughcustodyandbackintothecommunity.
PrisongangsThereisanimportantdistinctiontobedrawnbetweenstreetgangmembersinprisonsand'prisongangs'.
WhereasKleinandMaxson(2006)definethestreetgangasadurable,street-orientedyouthgroup[s]whoseinvolvementinillegalactivityispartofitsgroupidentity,Lyman(1989)definestheprisongangas:Anorganizationwhichoperateswithintheprisonsystemasaself-perpetuatingcriminallyorientedentity,consistingofaselectgroupofinmateswhohaveestablishedanorganizedchainofcommandandaregovernedbyanestablishedcodeofconduct.
ResearchontheexistenceofprisongangsintheUKpenalsystemhashithertobeenlimited.
However,researchbyLieblingetal(2011)inHMPWhitemoorsuggeststhatgroupingsthatcorrespondinsomerespectswithLyman'sdefinitionofprisongangsmaybeoperatinginsomeUKjails.
TheresearchersfoundthatsomeprisonerswereconvertingtoIslamforprotectionorbecausetheyhadbeen'bullied'.
Anumberofnon-Muslimsandprisonofficersclaimedthatconvertsdidsotojoinan'organisedgang'anda'protectionracket'which'glorifiedterroristbehaviourandexploitedthefearrelatedtoit'.
Thereportnotedthat:Thenewpopulationmix,includingyounger,moreblackandminorityethnicandmixedrace,andhighnumbersofMuslimprisoners,wasdisruptingestablishedhierarchiesintheprison.
Socialrelationsamongprisonershadbecomecomplexandlessvisible.
Toomuchpowerflowedamongsomegroupsofprisoners,withsomerealrisksofseriousviolence.
Therewerehighlevelsoffearintheprison.
Inparticular,thereweretensionsandfearsrelatingto'extremism'and'radicalisation'.
Prisonguardssaidthattheyoperatedapolicyof'appeasement'towardsthepowerfulandgrowingIslamicpopulation,particularlyconvictedterrorists,whowerefearedtoberecruitingfutureextremists.
THEGANGANDTHEPRISON0529Theriseinprisonviolenceasdescribedonpage13ofthisreportwasparalleledbyseverebudgetcutsattheMOJwhichhaveledtostaffcutsinpenalestablishments.
AninvestigationofFelthamYOIbyHerMajesty'sInspectorateofPrisons(HMIP,2015)foundthatnearlytwogang-relatedattackswererecordedeverydayontheinstitution'sCCTV.
TheinvestigationwastriggeredbecausetheauthoritieshadfoundthatwardersatFeltham'B',thewingreservedforinmatesaged18to21,usedbatonssignificantlymorethanatanyotherprison.
HMIPfoundthatgangmarkingsweredaubedinsidecellsandprisonofficerswereforcedtomovegroupsaroundinordertopreventdisputesescalating.
NickHardwick,theChiefInspectorofPrisons,describedFeltham'B'asaverydisturbingplace.
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IfyouwereaparentwithachildinFelthamyouwouldberighttobeterrified.
ItwouldbeveryhardnottojoinaganginFeltham.
InMarch2013theParliamentaryPublicAccountsCommittee(PPAC,2013)indicatedthatthe2012MOJspendingcutshadincreasedthelevelofriskinprisons,notingthat:Weareconcernedaboutsafetyanddecencyinsomeprisonsandthefactthatmoreprisonersarereportingthattheydonotfeelsafe.
Assaultsonstaff,self-harmandescapesfromcontractorescortshaveallincreased.
Theagencyshouldensurethatsavingsplanshaveregardtothepotentialimpactonriskstostandardsofsafety,decencyandrespectinprisonsandinthecommunity.
HMPandYOIIsisinThamesmead,London,openedinApril2010.
InJanuary2012,HMIPidentifiedthequalityofstaffingandgangviolenceasthetwomajorproblemsafflictingtheprison.
Laterin2012thereportoftheIsisIndependentMonitoringBoardobservedthat:Probablythemostseriouslocalissuefacingtheinstitutionisthehighlevelofviolenceandbullying,mainlygang-related,amongoffendersandtheresultingfearsforpersonalsafety.
InFebruary2014,followingasurprisevisit,theChiefInspectorofPrisonsexpressedconcernthatmanyoftheseviolentincidentswereserious,ofteninvolvinggangs,withahigherproportionthanusualinvolvingweapons(HMIP,2014a).
Itwasalsonotedthatmanyoftheseassaultswereplannedandinvolvedanumberofinmatesattackingasingleprisoner.
InAugust2014,105ofthe622inmates,allofwhomareunder25,wereloggedontheMPSgangsmatrix,whileotherswere'self-declared'gangmembers.
AnunannouncedvisitinJune2014toHMYOICookhamWoodinKent,whichholdssentencedandremandedboysaged15to18,foundasimilarsituation(HMIP,2014b).
Inthesixmonthsbeforetheinspection169actsofviolencewererecordedandtheinspectorsnotedthatseriousinjuriesfollowingfightsandassaultswerenotuncommon.
Theywatchedmorethanadozenvideosofincidentswhichrevealedweapons,attacksonindividualsbymultipleassailantsandrecklessbehaviourbyboys,includingkickingandheadstamping.
TheywarnedthattheviolenceatCookhamWoodwashighandrising.
ProfessionalswhoattendedthefocusgroupssaidthatthegangviolenceprobleminprisonsandYOIsiswidespreadandserious.
Severalareinvolvedinthedirectdeliveryofprogrammeswithintheinstitutionsmentionedearlier.
Theybelievedthatprisonstaffdidnotunderstandwhypeoplewerefightingwitheachotherandlackedtheresources,intermsofthenumberandskillsofprisonofficers,todealeffectivelywithviolentincidents.
Thereisthereforefrequentrecourseto'lockdown'andpunishmentthroughtheuseofsolitaryconfinement.
Thispreventsmanygang-involvedyoungpeoplegainingaccesstopersonaldevelopmentprogrammesdesignedtotacklegangviolenceorattendeducationalopportunitiesonoffer.
30Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondBasically,whenyou'refromagang,incustody,there'snosuchthingasagang.
There'sgangsinsidebutthere'snosuchthing.
Everyone'stogether.
Theydon'tcareifyou'refromthatgangorthatgang.
Theywillmixyou,soyoutendtohavefights.
Iusedtohavealotoffights.
20-year-oldmalereleasedin2013Thepsycho-socialenvironmentFocusgrouprespondentsfeltthatcustodialinstitutionsweredehumanisingenvironmentsforbothstaffandinmates.
Theproblem,theysaid,residedinthecultureoftheinstitutionsandthesolutionthereforelayin'culturalchange'.
Thereis,theysaid,insufficientsupportandsupervisionforpoorlytrainedofficers.
Asaresultofthepost-2010cutsintheMOJ,manyoftheolderandmoreexperiencedprisonofficersretired.
Havingrecognisedtheproblemscausedbythesestaffreductions,theMOJishurriedlyrecruitingnewstaff,albeitonalowerratewhichisunattractivetomanyoftheexperiencedofficerswhoweremaderedundant.
Thisraisesquestionsaboutwhetherastrategyofconcentratinggang-involvedyoungpeopleinparticularprisonsandYOIsmakessense.
Mostoftheresearchsuggeststhatprisonviolencetendstobe'imported'intojailsbygangmembers(DeLisietal,2004)andthatpreviouslyuninvolvedyoungpeoplemaychoosetobecomeganginvolvedasameansofself-protection(Pitts,2008).
Itisalsosuggestedbysomegangmembersthattheproliferationandconsolidationofgang-relateddrug-dealingnetworksisfacilitatedbythrowinglargenumbersofgang-involvedpeopleintothesameplacewithverylittletodoapartfromfightandplanforamorelucrativefuture.
ControllinggangsinprisonsGiventhehighprofileoftheissueofgangsinprisonitseemslikelythattheMOJwilladoptanewstrategyinvolvingenhancedprosecutionand,possibly,theisolationand/ordispersalofgang-involvedprisonersthroughoutthesystem.
However,thisraisesfurtherquestionsaboutwhether,bymovingseriouslygang-involvedyoungpeopletootherwingsorotherinstitutions,oneissolvingtheproblemorsowingtheseedsfortheproliferationoftheprisongang.
Thiswilldependonhowwidespreadgangsorgangcultureiswithinthepenalsystem.
However,thistaskwillbemademoredifficultbecauseoftherecentandplannedclosuresofsomeprisonsandprisonunits.
Atpresent,weknowverylittleaboutthedimensionsofthe'gangproblem'inUKpenalinstitutions.
Todate,JaneWoodandhercolleaguesattheUniversityofKentaretheonlyresearcherstohaveconductedstudiesoftheextentofgangactivityinEnglishprisons(Wood,2006;WoodandAdler,2001;Woodetal,2009;Woodetal,2010).
Since2001,theyhaveinterviewedstaffin16prisonsand360inmatesinnineprisonsabouttheirknowledgeofgangs,gangmembersandgangbehaviours.
Theyfoundthatgangactivitywashighestinmediumsecuritymaleinstitutionsandthatethnicitywasanimportantdimensionofganginvolvement,aswerelocalandregionalloyalties.
Inmatesspokeofincreasinglevelsofgang-relatedactivityandofthedifficultiesstaffexperiencedinmaintainingorder.
Manyrespondentsexpressedthebeliefthatprisonerscontrolledeventsintheprison,particularlywithregardtodrugtrafficking.
Prisoners'accountsechoedmanyoftheobservationsmadebyprisonstaff.
Ifthisisso,itisnecessarytoconsiderthewaysinwhichprisonregimesmightbeorganisedtominimisegangcrimeandviolenceinordertomaximisetheprospectsofeffectiverehabilitation.
PreventingprisonviolenceandpromotingrehabilitationUntilrelativelyrecently,thetwomainacademicapproachestoprisonviolencewerethedeprivationandimportationmodels.
Theformermodelsuggeststhatthelossoffreedomandthestarkprisonenvironmentleadprisonerstocreateadeviantsubculturethatgeneratesviolence(Wortley,2002).
Thelattermodelcontendsthatprisoners,bydintoftheirpersonalandcriminalhistoriesandsocialnetworks,bringtheviolencewiththem(Cao,ZhaoandvanDine,1997;HarerandSteffensmeier,1996).
Morerecently,scholarshaveturnedtheirattentiontothe'minutiaeoftheaverageprisonday'31(Bottoms,2003)andhowtheorganisationoftheprisonshapestheinteractionsbetweeninmatesandcreatesthesituationalfactorsthattriggerorregulateviolence.
Thesecanbecharacterisedasthetransactionalmodel(Bottoms,1999)andthesituationalmodel(Wortley,2002).
Inthesestudies,factorsidentifiedasbeinglinkedwithprisonviolenceincludeprisonercharacteristics,racialtensions,prisonarchitectureanddesign,managementpractices,levelsofsecurity,staffskillsandtraining,prisoncultureandpoliticalpressureonprisonadministrators.
Insum,poorprisonmanagementresultingindysfunctionalformsofcontrolemergesasamajorcauseofprisonviolence;suggestingthatchangesinthesepractices,especiallytheabandonmentofarbitrarycoercivecontrols,willbemosteffectiveinreducingviolence.
Researchsuggeststhatthemosteffectiveviolencepreventionstrategiesincludeimprovedsurveillanceofhigh-risklocations,themanipulationofprisonerprivilegesandimprovedsupervisionofbothstaffandprisoners.
Theempiricalevidencefortheviolence-reductioneffectsoftreatmentprogrammes,includingcognitive-behavioural,violencealternatives,andangermanagementisnotstrong(e.
g.
Walrath,2001)andmostscholarsconcludethattheirsuccessisdependentuponconducivesituationalfactors.
Academicandvocationaleducationprogrammesbycontrastappeartohelpreduceprisonruleviolationsandviolenceandthereforeappeartobeoneofthemoreusefulmanagementapproachesformaintainingprisonorder(FritschandGerber,1994).
EducationintheprisonIwasabitofaplayer,sohaveyouheardofaplayer,Ihaddifferentgirls.
SowhenIwentintojailIhadloadsofpeoplewritingtome,Icouldn'treadthem.
Icouldreadlikeonewordandthenmissafewwordsandread,soIhadtogetotherpeopletoreaditforme,andIfeltlikeanidiot.
SoIlearntandthenIstartedreading,andthenstartedwritingandlearning.
ThatwasthemainthingandthenIjustwantedto.
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ItcomeupthatwhenIwasineducation,Iwantedtogo.
Iwasthinkingthere'snopointinjustgoingbecausetheyarethere,Imightaswelllearnaswell,andIjuststartedlearning.
Theycomeupwithanagreement.
BecausewhenIfirstwentIusedtogetintoalotoffightsinthere.
Sotheycomeup.
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WhereIwasalwaysdowntheblockoralwaysinmycelltheycomeupwithanagreement.
TheysaidtheywillletmedowhatIwanttodo,ifwedotheircourses.
SoIusedtodomyArtandMechanicsanytimeIwanted.
22-year-oldmaleWhereastheresearchsuggeststhateducationcanoffertheinmatearoutetosuccesswhentheyareeventuallyreleased,professionalswhoattendedthefocusgroupsobservedthatprisonersofwidelydifferentabilitiesandatverydifferentstagesoftheireducationalcareerswerefrequentlyputtogetherinYOIs.
Yeah,there'sloadsofqualificationsbutit'sallentrylevelone,two,three,andallsillylittlestuffthatdoesn'treallygetrecognisedintherealworld.
SoformeallthosecoursesareabigjokeandIwas,like,nah,whyamIwastingmytimedoingthatwhenI'vedonehigherlevelstuffSowhenIsawthelevelthreeAdviceandGuidanceIwas,like,wow,thisis…thisisgood.
Putinanapplication,gotaccepted,didthecourse,passedit,andthengotofferedachancetogointhecommunityanddosomevoluntarywork.
Perfectopportunity.
25-year-oldmaleItwasalsoreportedthatmuchofthegang-relatedviolence'kickedoff'duringeducationclasses.
Thereappearstobeahighlevelofundiagnosedlearningdisabilitiesandmentalhealthneedswithinthepopulationandtheearlyuseofscreeningtoolscouldavoidmanysituationsinwhichtheseproblemsexacerbatetheviolence.
Additionally,itappearsthatthereisnospecialisedtrainingforteachersinpenalinstitutions.
SoIusedtothinkthatthere'sliterallyaprobleminme,soIusedtocausefightsatschoolinsteadofreadingoutloud,understandIusedtobedestructivejusttogetoutofthatscenario,justtosavemyselffromembarrassment.
Butinprisontheyactuallyfoundthesourceandtheytoldmeoh,you'redyslexic.
Iwas,like,oh,OK.
That'swhyIwaslikeit.
21-year-oldmale32Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondFocusgrouprespondentsalsoraisedtheissuethatbecauseofpoorcoordinationinsidetheprisonorYOIitcantaketwohourstobringayoungpersontotheirclassroom.
Additionally,duetotheincreaseinviolencewithintheinstitutions,behaviourmanagementtendstobefocusedonconfinementandisolation,inevitablyreducingayoungperson'spotentialtoparticipateineducationalopportunities.
Verylittleuseismadeoftechnologyandonerespondentobservedthatiftheprisoncouldbelinkedtothecourtbyvideoitcouldalsobelinkedtouniversitiesandfurthereducationcolleges.
However,thissuggestiontendstobedismissedbecauseof'securityissues'.
Aconcernwasexpressedthatwiththeimplementationofthenewregimeof30hoursaweekofeducationinYOIs,ifnoattemptismadetomakeitrelevantandinterestingforeachoftheinmates,itcouldincreasethelikelihoodofviolence,notleastbecauseitcouldmeanthattheyoungpeoplearedeniedaccesstothegymandothersportingfacilities.
Provisionofeducationisvariableacrossthecustodialestateasthesecontrastingquotesillustrate.
There'snotreallymuchtooffer,butIchoseatrade.
Ichosepaintinganddecorating.
Tobehonest,thecoursesshouldbelonger,butobviously,there'salotofstudentsandpeopletocaterfor.
ButIchosepaintinganddecorating,andIdonemybestinprisontogaintherelevantqualificationstoactuallygainemploymentwhenIcomeout.
AndIgotajobinpaintinganddecorating.
Ibelieve…threemonthsafterIwasreleasedfromcustody,andImotivatedalotofpeople,becausealotofpeoplewhoIleftbehind,incollegesoringangsorwhatever,theywere,like,oh,Ineedtogetajob.
AndIjusttold'emIgotajobalready.
24-year-oldmaleYouhavegotyourworkshopsdownstairsandyouhavegottheeducationupstairs,andthere'sthisbig.
Itgoesallthewaydown,itislong,likebigcorridors.
Soyouhavegoteverything.
YouhavegotArt,youhavegotPSB,youhavegoterm.
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ICT,Music,English,Maths,Science,Catering.
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youhavegotloads.
Soitisuptoyou.
Youcanchooseaswell,youcanchoosewhatyouwanttodo.
Butithelpsalot,there'sloadsofpeopleintherethat.
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There'speopleintherethatI,youknow,can'treadandwritelikehowIwas,andtheyarelearning.
Itisgoodinthere.
Itisuptoyouwhattodo,ifyousetyourmindtoit.
Ifnotthenyoujustsitinyourcellanddoyourtimeandthat.
21-year-oldmaleOfsignificantimportanceforyoungpeopleleavingcustodywerethearrangementsputinplacetocontinuewiththeireducation.
Arrangementsforsuitableplacementsinschoolsorcollegeswereoftenmadeextremelylate,orindeed,inthecasebelow,notatall.
We'vejusthadagirlcomeoutofcustody,andagain,pre16,therewasnoschoolplacementsetupforher.
Wearenowhalfwaythroughthenewstartofterm,andsheisnotgoingtogetaplacenowuntilafterJanuary,sheleavesschoolinJune,sowehavealreadylostthreemonthsoftheyear.
Becausenothing,notenoughplanningwasputinplace.
Sosheisnotgettinganeducation.
Nowtheyarefindingthesestupid,Iamgoingtosaystupid,three-daycoursesthatmeannothing,sheiswastinghertime.
Sheisnotgoingtowalkawaywithaqualification.
Whateverjobsheappliesfor,whateverapprenticeshipsheappliesfor,youaregoingtoneedyour.
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wellGCSEspreferably,butyouaregoingtoneedyourbasicnumeracy.
Andtheissuewiththatis,thelongeryouleaveit,themoredauntingitbecomesforthatyoungperson.
YOSprofessionalTheuseofROTLcouldbeexpandedfurthertoensurethatinmatesgetthechancetoattendrelevanteducationalorvolunteeringopportunitiesandinterviews.
Thisexampledemonstratestheimportanceoftherelationshipbetweeninmatesandprisonstaffinmakingdecisionsaboutthesuitabilityofsuchopportunities.
IstartedstudyingandIdonemyfirstdegreewhileIwasincustody,yeah.
Youthjustice.
Iwasabletogoto…throughtheOpenUniversity.
Didn'tmatterwhichjailthatIwentto.
Soovertheyearsofmebreakingandthing…I'vealwaysusedtheresourceswithintheprison,soeventhough,yeah,Iwasaprolificoffender,Iwasaprolificoffenderwhotookeverypieceofeducationthattheprisonwasabletogiveme.
Onceyou'remadeaDCatyou'reabletogotowork.
SoIwastwoyearsintomysentencethen,andIdecidedtoapplyforROTL.
Somygovernorsatdownandsheaskedmealoadofquestions.
Shewas,like,well,lookingatyourpaperworkyou'remeanttogetanostraightaway.
ButIknowyou,andIknowtheachievementsthatyou'vemadeandIwouldliketobackyouinanywaythatIcan,andIdon'twantyoutoletmedown,soIneedtohearfromyou,like,IneedtoreallyhearfromyouwhatareyouseekingandwhereareyougoingAndwhyisitthatyouwanttoYes,yes,andasharshasshewas,alotofpeopledidn'tactuallylikeherandIlovedher,becauseIjustthoughtthatshewasquiterealinherevaluationofeachprisoner.
IstartedworkingandIvolunteered.
ButIdidn'tjustvolunteer.
Iwasthefirstpersonwithinmyestablishmentevertoreceiveapaidjobstillinsideprison.
SomeonetoreceivepaidworkwhilebeingaDCat.
SoIstartedoffparttimeasaprojectcoordinator.
Wespoketothe[new]governorand…There'saruleintheprisonthatsaysthatifyouworktheytake40%ofyourmoney.
Thegovernor,basically,overrodethatbecauseofmyflat.
AndIwassayingtohimlisten,Sir,like,mymoney'sfinished,like,Sir,I'mgonnalosemyflat.
I'vegot,like,ayearandsomethingleft,andIdon'tseewhyIshouldkeepmyflatfor,like,nearlythreeyearsandthenloseitatthelastmoment.
Thatdon'tmakenosense.
Sohewas,like,OK.
Andheapprovedformetokeepallofmywages.
Andthenfromthere,Ialwayswantedtobeacaseworker.
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Iwasjustabouttocomeout.
Ihad,like,threemonthsorsomethingleft,butyeah,IwasaDCat.
AndIbecameafullyqualifiedcaseworker.
I'dproventhatIwasabletodoalloftheworkandallofthepaperworkthatcomeswithit,andalsohittargetsandexitpeople…itwasreallygood.
Ienjoyedit.
Lisaisnowafull-timestaffmemberataprojectsupportinggang-involvedyoungpeopleleavingcustody.
LISA'SSTORY34Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondSituationalpreventionWortley's(2002)overviewofsituationalstrategiesforthereductionofprisonviolence,suggeststhat:Single-cellaccommodationcanreducecrowdingandshowrespectforaprisoner'sterritory(precipitation-control),whilealso'targethardening'aprisoner(opportunityreduction,orregulation-control)Increasingfemaleprisonercontrolovertheirenvironmentscanencouragecomplianceandreducefrustration(precipitation-control)Smallorsubdividedprisonscanreduceanonymity(precipitation-control)Age-heterogeneouspopulationscanreducebothinappropriateimitationandconformity(precipitation-control)Increasingfemalestaffmayencouragecomplianceandreducefrustration(precipitation-control),reducingassaultsonstaffEliminationofblindspotsmayimproveformalandnaturalsurveillance(regulation-control)HomelandThomson(2005)contendthatWholePrisonapproachestoreducingviolencewhichareanalogouswithWholeSchoolapproachestopreventbullyingarestronglysupportedbyresearchconductedinBritishprisonsbyEdgarandO'Donnell(1998).
Thisresearchfoundthatsuccessfulantibullyingpolicieswerecontingentuponenhancedcommunicationbetweeninmatesandstaffandrelatedsituationalpreventionmeasures,prisonereducationprogrammes,stafftrainingandvictimsupport(HomelandThomson,2005).
GangmembersandmentalhealthTherecentlypublishedreportentitledThementalhealthneedsofgang-affiliatedyoungpeople(Hughesetal,2015)identifiesthehighrateofmentalillnessfacedbyyoungpeopleinvolvedwithgangs.
Hughesetalclaimthat'gangmembersareatincreasedriskofarangeofmentalhealthconditionsincludingconductdisorder,antisocialpersonalitydisorder,anxiety,psychosisanddrugandalcoholdependence'.
Inparticular,thecentralplaceofseriousviolencewithinthecultureofthegangmeansthatgang-involvedyoungpeoplearebothpotentialvictimsaswellasperpetrators.
Suchexposuretoviolence,especiallyoverthelongterm,isassociatedwithpsychologicalproblemsincludingdepression,conductdisordersandpost-traumaticstressdisorder.
CitingtheworkofKhanetal(2013),Hughesetalremindusofthefollowingstatisticsaftertheanalysisofdatafromhealthscreeninginitiativeswithyoungpeople(mainly10to18yearolds)atthepointofarrest:Almost40%ofthosewhoweregangmembers(ofbothsexes)hadsignsofseverebehaviouralproblemsbeforetheageof12,comparedwith13%ofgeneralyouthjusticeentrants.
Aroundaquarterhadasuspectedmentalhealthdiagnosisandoveraquarterweresufferingsleepingoreatingproblems(comparedwithlessthan10%forgeneralentrants).
Oneinthreefemaleandoneintenmalegangmemberswereconsideredatriskofsuicideorself-harm.
Khanetal,2013,citedinHughesetal,2015Thesestatisticsdemonstratetheneedforthesecureestatetoundertakeappropriatescreeningofgang-involvedyoungpeopleinordertoensurethatthenecessarysupportisavailabletoinmatesaspartoftheirviolenceandself-harmreductionstrategy.
35Onefocusgrouprespondentbelievedthata'trauma-based'approachwhichacknowledgestheviolencetheseyoungpeoplehadwitnessedandtheworldfromwhichtheycomeshouldinformresponsestoviolenceinpenalinstitutions(WrightandLiddle,2014).
Andthetraumaofthatisn'tdealtwitheither,andtheyendupincustodyasvictimsaswellasperpetrators…theyareonlydealtwithasaperpetrator.
Andtheyneverunderstandthemeaningoftrauma.
Sotothemseeingsomeoneshotitgoesintotheirpsycheanditisleftthere,andsotheyhaveneverunderstoodwhattraumais,sothen.
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Itisbasedontheirbehaviour.
WhyareyouactuallydoingthatTheydon'tevenknowwhytheyaredoingit,butitisbecauseyou'veseenyourmategetshotorstabbedtodeath,andyouhavehadthatbasedinyourpsyche.
YOSprofessionalRegimelegitimacyBottoms(2003)maintainsthatthecontrolofviolenceisinextricablylinkedwithwhether,andtheextenttowhich,theprisonregimeisperceivedbyinmatesasbeinglegitimate.
CitingthefindingsoftheWoolfInquiryintothe1990UKprisondisturbances,heproposes'aspeculativeinteractivemodel'ofgoodorderinprisonswhichgivesacentralplacetolegitimation,whichheseesasaproductof:TheperceivedfairnessofstaffTheperceivedfairnessoftheprisonregimeTheperceptionofdistributivefairness,bywhichhemeansthequalityofthecomplaintsanddisciplinarysystemsDesistancefromganginvolvementAnevaluationundertakenforCatch22(Settyetal,2014)foundthataschemeatHMPThamesidehadhelpedtoreduceviolenceby75%byenablinginmatestodesistfromganginvolvement.
TheCatch22workerandtheHMP/Sercoseniorcustodialgroupoffendingcasemanagervisiteachnewarrivalwithin12hourstofindoutwhethertheyareganginvolved.
Iftheysaytheyare,amanagementplanisdrawnuptoensurethatantagonisticgangmembersareputintodifferentpartsoftheprisonandhavedifferenttimesforactivitiesandvisits.
Theyalsokeepincontactwiththemincaseanyotherissuesariseandconflictresolutionisrequired.
BetweenApril2013andOctober2014thenumberofviolentincidentsatHMPThamesidedroppedfromapproximately90permonthtofewerthan20.
Theevaluationisbasedon19'in-depthinterviews'withyoungprisoners,semi-structuredinterviewswithprisonstaff,includingarepresentativefromthewings,theviolencereductionteamandthegangsteamandananalysisofincidentsofviolenceandmisconductintheprison.
Theschemealsoinvolvesa'ModelPrisoners'programmeinwhichex-gang-involvedyoungpeoplearetrainedtobe'gangreps'whomentorotheryoungpeople.
Theevaluatorssuggestthatgang-involvedprisonersdonotsimplyrecreateneighbourhoodgangsinsidetheprisonbecausethereareinsufficientnumberstomakethisviable.
Thereconfiguredgangsinprisonare,however,territorialinthesensethataffiliatesareoftendrawnfromaparticulargeographicalarea.
Butaffiliationsmaychangeinresponsetochangingeventswithintheprison.
Someprisonerswereheavilyinvolvedingangs,whileothersdrifted'inandoutofoffendingwithapeergroup'.
UnlikeWoodandAdler(2001),theevaluatorsdidnotfindthatgang-involvedprisonerswereexercisingcontrolofdrugandothercontrabandmarkets.
Inlinewithotherresearchtheyfoundthatgang-involvedprisonersweremorelikelytobeinvolvedinviolentincidents.
TheyoungpeopleinterviewedinSettyelal'sreport(2014)saidthatcontactwiththeoutside,includingfamily,couldhelpyoungpeopledesistfromganginvolvement.
However,suchcontactcouldalsotriggerfeelingsofsadnessbecauseitwasareminderofwhattheyweremissing.
Thereisnotalwaysawillingnessforfamiliestomaintaincontactwiththeirlovedonesasthisyoungmanwespoketoexplained.
36Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondWhenyoucomeoutaftertwoandahalfyearsobviouslyalotofpeople'sfamiliesdon'twannaknowthem,hencemyreason…Ididn'tgetanycontactfrommyparentsandthat'cause,youknow,bythetimeIwas21Iwenttojailfivetimes.
HowmanytimescanyourparentskeepcomingtoseeyouHowmanytimescantheykeepgivingyouabitofchangeAndmymum'saloneparent.
Shestrugglestodogoodformeandmybrotherandshediddoverywellforus.
Imean,wedidn'thaveeverythingbutwehadenough,hundredpercent.
Butmymumseemsto,youknow,gottothatplacewhere…I'mgoodwithhernow,butforthefirstyearIdidn'tgetanycontactwithmyparents.
24-year-oldmalereleasedin2011Relationshipswithgangmembersinthecommunitycouldalsobedifficulttomaintain,andsomesaidthatroad(gang)friendsarenottruefriends.
AllthoseinterviewedwereemphaticthattheydidnotwanttocomebacktocustodyandSetty,oneofthereport'sauthors,saidthat'Asubstantialminorityofthe19interviewedexplicitlystatedthattheyhadexited(gangs)'.
Shecontinued,'Whatbecameclear,however,wasthatalthoughtheywouldsaythis,itwasstillpossiblefortheseprisonerstodriftinandoutofoffendingwiththegroup'.
Thereportmakesfiverecommendations:1TheNationalOffenderManagementService(NOMS)toworkwithprisonestablishmentstosupporttheintroductionandadoptionofeffectivemechanismstoidentifygang-involvedprisoners.
NOMStoworkwiththepoliceandotheragenciestofacilitatetheexchangeofinformationprisonsneed.
2TheHomeOfficeEGYVteamtoworkwithprisonestablishmentstosupporttheintroductionandadoptionofastandardisedprocesstoassessthenatureofissuesrelatedtogangsfacedbyprisonestablishments.
3Prisonestablishmentstoadoptmechanismsforidentifyingthecircumstancesinwhichissuesarelikelytoarise,andpre-emptivemethodstoaddressissuesandreducerisk.
4Prisonestablishmentstoadoptapproachesforaddressingissueswhentheyariseandforthoroughinvestigationofincidentstoenablestafftotackletheunderlyingcausesofissues.
5Prisonestablishments,withthesupportofNOMS,toproviderehabilitationtogang-involvedprisonerstoencouragegangexit.
Project507isapersonaldevelopmentprogrammeforgang-associatedyoungmenaged16to25incustody.
FundedbyNOMSandtheEuropeanSocialFund,over200youngmenhaveparticipatedoverthelasttwoyears.
Participantsattendthree-hourweeklysessionsfor12weeks.
Itlooksatstrategiesforbreakingthecycleofoffending,gangawareness,violenceinthehome,personalviolenceandhowtoturnskillslearntinthestreetsintoproductiveskills.
Real-lifescenariosareusedtohelpyoungmentocomeupwithmorepositivesolutionstotheirowndilemmas.
Objectives:1Tobuildonyoungmen'sstrengthsandidentifyandpromoteconfidence,attitudesandbehaviourswhichreducerisk2Toutilisecreativitytoenableyoungmenatriskofandcaughtupingangactivitytodeveloptheirself-esteemandlifeskills3Toproviderelevantopportunitiesforyoungmenatriskofoffending/currentlyoffendingtore-engageineducation,trainingandjobopportunities4Tomeettheuniqueneedsofhigh-riskyoungoffenders5Toempoweryoungmentoreachtheirfullpotentialandtoprovidethemwithchoices,decision-makingopportunities,andownershipoftheworkProject507curriculumSessionandtitleAim1Me,MyselfandITointroducetheprogramme,theteam,gettoknoweachotherandourselves.
2TheWorldandITounderstanddifferentkindsofbehaviourandrelationshipsincludingdysfunctionalandhurtfulones.
3TheChoicesIMakeToexplorethepossibleexplanationsbehindoffendingbehaviourandwhatmightstoppeoplefromoffendinginthefuture.
4TheManinMe!
Tolookatcharacterdevelopmentandthechoiceswehavebefore,duringandafteranoffencetakesplace.
5BeenThereDoneThat!
Touseroleplaytoexperienceallthedifferentperspectivesofpeopleaffectedbycrime.
6BreakingtheCycleTolookatwhatitmeanstobeamanandthedifferentrolesofmenwithinsociety.
7It'sAllAboutMe!
Tolookatourownidentities.
8IAmWhoIWantToBe!
Tothinkaboutwhowewanttobemovingforward.
9Transformation!
Tostartdevelopingafive-yearplanandpersonalstatement.
10GotTheTalk!
Tolookatlanguage,thewayitisusedandhowitcanaffectourdailylives.
11TheWorld'sMyOyster!
Toreflectoverthelasttensessions,usingalltheknowledgegainedtofinishplansandpersonalstatements.
12ClosingCeremony!
Topresentpersonalstatementseithertofamilymembersortostaffwithintheprison.
BESTPRACTICEPROJECT50738Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondNorthAmericanandBritishresearchindicatesthatmostgang-involvedprisonerscomewithahistoryofmoreseriouscriminalityandviolence,pooreducationalattainmentandapatchyworkrecord(GriffinandHepburn,2006;Shaplandetal,2012;WardandMaruna,2007).
Onceinside,theytendtoaffiliatewithmembersoftheirownneighbourhoodgang,oranewgangthathasformedinprison.
Theyarealsomorelikelytoengagein'institutionalmisconduct',includingviolence,extortionandthesaleofdrugsandothercontraband.
Theseviolationstendtobedealtwithbysolitaryconfinementwhichpreventstheseinmatesfromattendingworkshopswheretheymightgainnewskills,oreducationalprogrammesthatwillhelpthemtotakeuptraining,legitimateemploymentorfurthereducationuponrelease(GriffinandHepburn,2006).
Whengangmembersarereleasedandreturntotheirneighbourhoods,theyoftenfindthat,becausegangsareusuallyinastateofflux(Harding,2014),thepowerrelationshipswithinandbetweenlocalgangshavechangedandthattheycannotoccupytheroletheyvacatedwhentheywereimprisoned.
Moreover,thecontroltheyonceexertedoverterritoryoranillicitbusinessmayhavepassedtoanothergangmemberoranothergang.
Theremayalsobeanexpectationfromtheirerstwhileassociatesthatinordertorestoretherespectwhichtheyonceheld,theywillneedtovisitretributionuponthosewhohave'dissed'themwhiletheyhavebeenaway.
Andifthisinvolvesagirlfriendwhohas'dumped'or'two-timed'themwhiletheywereinside,theneedtodosomaybeevenmorepressing.
Ontheotherhand,ifahighstatusgangmemberservesalongenoughsentencetheymayfindthatontheirreturntheirganghasbeenabsorbedintoanewgangwithnewleadersandnewbusinessinterests.
Itmayalsobethecasethat,becauseofthetimethathaselapsed,theymaynotbeknownbyanew'generation'ofgangmembers.
Insummingupthefindingsoftheirresearchintogangre-entryPyroozetal(2011)indicatethat:Theevidencethatdoesexistisonlysuggestive,butseveralconclusionscanbedrawn.
First,gangmembersare'hardcases';thatis,theyarelikelytobecomethetargetsofinstitutionalcontrolthroughmisconduct,disciplinaryhearings,segregationand'jacketing'.
Second,andasaconsequenceofsuchbehaviour,theyareisolatedfromroutineprogramming,educationalandemploymentopportunitiesavailabletothegeneralprisonpopulation.
Third,whileinprisongangmembersarelikelytoformnewallianceswithprisongangsthatdifferfromtheonestheyhadonthestreetbeforeenteringprison.
Fourth,whenleavingprison,gangmembersfindachangedlandscapeintheircommunitiesandthegangsthattheyoncebelongedto.
Finally,asaconsequenceofthis,gangmembershaveamongthehighestrisksforreturntoprison.
Whileconsiderableeffortisexpendedonpreventionofgangmembership,promotinggangdesistanceonthepartofgangmembersleavingprisonneedscarefulscrutiny.
FactorspromotingdesistancefromgangcrimeSuchevidenceaswehavesuggestsanumberofpointsorsituationswheregang-involvedyoungpeoplemaydesistfromgangcrime.
However,desistingfromgangcrime,asDeaneetal(2007)argue,doesnotnecessarilymeanleavingthegang.
Althoughresearchsuggeststhatdissociationfromdelinquentpeersfacilitatesdesistance(Farrington,1996),forthosewhohavebeenembroiledinseriousgangconflict,continuedinvolvementmaywellbeaprerequisiteofpersonalsafety(Pitts,2008and2011).
Youngpeoplemaydesistfromgangcrimeandintensiveganginvolvementfollowingthedeathorseriousinjuryofafriendorrelative.
Indeed,researchershaveobservedthatconstantexposuretoGANG-INVOLVEDYOUNGPEOPLE,DESISTANCEANDRESETTLEMENT0639violencemaypromotedesistance(DeckerandLauritsen,2002).
Someyoungpeopledesistwhentheymakethetransitionfromschooltocollege,whileothersstepbackfromganginvolvementwhentheysetuphomewithapartnerorwhentheybecomeaparent(Hagedorn,1998).
Itistheresponsibility.
Itisyourresponsibility.
Noonecantakethatawayfromyou.
That'syourkid.
Soobviouslywhenlike.
.
.
Obviouslywhatmademepromisethem,iswhenIwenttoseemydaughterthefirsttimeIcameout,andIsaidIhavegottogohome.
ShethoughtIwasgoingbacktotheprison,shedidn'twantmetoleave.
Sothat'swhatmademethink,ohrightIhavegottodothisnow.
I'vegottostayout.
Soitisgood.
Itisanicefeeling.
Itisagoodfeelingtothinkthatyouarewanted,obviouslyitisyourdaughteryouhavegottolookafterher,dowhatyouhavegottodo.
SoIjusttrymybest.
22-year-oldfatherwhosedaughterwasbornwhenhewas15andwhohadbeeninjailallofhisdaughter'slifeuntilnow.
Apprehensionbythepoliceandtheprospectofimprisonmentcausessomegang-involvedyoungpeopletochangetheirways,whileaccesstolegitimateeducationalorvocationalopportunitiesorstartingalegitimatebusinessworksforothers.
However,theresearchalsoshowsthatdesistancefromcrimeisaprocessratherthananevent(Bateman,HazelandWright,2013;Bottomsetal,2004;Cromwelletal,1991;Maruna,2001).
Inhisstudyofgang-involvedstreetrobbers,Briggs(2008),likeotherresearchers,foundthatarrest,newrelationships,theinterventionofayouthworker,theexperienceofpersonalinjuryorwitnessingthedeathorseriousinjuryofafriendcouldprecipitatedesistance.
However,forBriggs'respondentsdesistancewasnotasudden,'once-and-for-all'event.
Hewrites:Desistanceisthereforecontextualandcontingent.
Oftenthese'crossroad'decisionsareskewedbytheeasewithwhichmoneycanbemadeillegally,andthiscontrastsstarklywiththelackofcapital,credibilityand'rep'yieldedbythelow-paidjobs,forwhichtheyhavetherequisiteexperienceandqualifications(Collinson,1996).
Thislackofstatus-conferringlegitimateopportunityanddisillusionmentwithmainstreaminstitutions,aswellastheprospectof'startingagain'atthe'bottomoftheladder'inanewsphere,servesasapowerfuldisincentivetodesistance.
Whethertheseyoungmencontinuetodesist,however,isuncertainalthoughtheirambitionforabetterliferemainsfirmlyintheirwords.
Briggs,2008Theoneconsistentfindingfromdesistanceresearchisthatageisamajordeterminantofdesistancefromcrimeingeneralandganginvolvementandgangcrimeinparticular(Harding,2014;Piquero,FarringtonandBlumstein,2007;Smithetal,2005).
The'drop-outrate'fromgangsbetweentheearlyteensandthemid-20sisover75%(Harding,2014),suggestingthatmostyoungpeople'matureout'ofganginvolvement.
However,asseveralstudieshavefound,thismaturationisbynomeansautomatic,butratheraprocessfacilitatedbyparticularlifeeventssuchasastablejoband'agoodmarriage'(SampsonandLaub,1992),whichgivethesubject'anincreasedinvestmentinsociety'andhenceagreater'stakeinconformity'(Farrall,2000;Farringtonetal,1986;SampsonandLaub,1992and1993).
Bjrgo(1999)suggeststhatinterventionsdesignedtopromotegangdesistanceshouldtakecognisanceofSpergel'sdistinctionbetweena'chronicgangproblem',characterisedbypersistentandacutepatternsofgang-relatedcrimeandviolencelastingformanyyears,andanemerginggangprobleminwhichthecrimeandviolenceislessorganisedandlessvirulent(Spergeletal,1994).
Bjrgocontendsthatemerginggangsmaywell'fallapart'oftheirownaccordandthatsuchdisintegrationmightbefacilitatedbytherightkindsofintervention,althoughhedoesnotspecifywhatthismightbe.
Heidentifiessixmainprocessesthatmayworkseparatelyorincombinationtobringaboutthedisintegrationofthegang:40Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond1Growingoutofganglifethroughnaturalmaturationandnewprioritiesinlife.
2Defeatofthegroupbyexternaluseofforce.
3Lossofexternalenemiesorthreat.
4Lossofidentity,statusandimage.
5Decayofgroupcohesiveness,solidarityandattractionvalue.
6Fragmentationofthegroupintosmallerunitswhichmaybetooweaktosurvive.
Undoubtedlythistypeofdisintegrationbooststhegangdrop-outrate,butitremainsthecasethat'chronicgangproblems'(Spergeletal,1994)existandattheheartoftheseproblemsaretheOldersandEldersidentifiedbyHardingwhotendtobethepeoplewhoorchestratetheactivitiesofyoungeraffiliatesandreapthegreatestrewardsfromgangcrime(Harding,2014).
It'sdifferentforgirlsBothGrahamandBowling(1995)andBatemanandHazel(2014d)observethatthepathwaysintoandoutofcrimearedifferentinimportantrespectsforgirlsandyoungwomen.
SomeNorthAmericanstudiesfoundthemajordifferencestobeyearsspentineducationandthepresenceofchildren(Sommersetal,1994;UggenandKruttschnitt,1998).
Muchlessisknownaboutgang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomen,however.
Whilepregnancyisoftencitedasoneofthereasonswomenleavegangs(Nimmo,2001),someUKresearchshowsthatso-calledbabymothersremainganginvolvedwhiletheyarepregnantandaftertheyhavegivenbirth(Harding,2014;Pitts,2008).
Gangcrime,desistanceandtheneighbourhoodeffectIn1993,SampsonandLaubnotedthat:Thereisincreasingevidencethattheprobabilityofadolescentrisksbecomingtransmutedintoadverseadultcircumstancesisgreatestamongthoseindisadvantagedracialandeconomicpositions.
SampsonandLaub,1993AstheveterangangscholarKleinhasobserved,individualchangeordesistancedecisionmakingisseverelylimitedinwhathedescribesas'poorlyorganizedcommunities'.
Hearguesthatwould-besocialreformerslackthenecessary'leverage'toalterthelivesofcommittedgangmembersbecausetheresourcestohandaretoomeagretochangeindividuallifetrajectoriesthathavebeentakingshapefor15or20years(Klein,2007).
Severalscholarsarguethatthelevelof'socialdisorganisation'inthepoorestneighbourhoodshasaprofoundimpactuponthestresslevelsofparents,thedegreeoffamilialcontroltheycanrealisticallyexert,andtheexposureoftheirchildrentodelinquentpeers(Bell,2009;Currie,1985;KrohnandThornberry,2003).
ThePittsburghChildDevelopmentStudyanalysedthelivesofover15,000youngpeopleinthecity(WikstromandLoeber,1997).
Theresearchersfoundthatoffendingbysubjectswithno,orverylow,individualandfamilialriskfactors,occurredsignificantlymorefrequentlyinthelowestSocio-EconomicStatus(SES)neighbourhoods,andthattherelationshipbetweentheseriskfactorsandseriousoffending'brokedown'forthoselivinginthemostdisadvantagedcommunities.
ThesefindingschallengewhatCurrie(1985)callsthe'fallacyofautonomy',theideathatthebehaviourofindividualsandtheirfamiliescanbeseparatedoutfromthecircumstancesinwhichtheylive.
Gladwell(2000)statesthemattersuccinctlywhenhesaysthat,giventhechoice,itisfarbettertocomefromatroubledfamilyinagoodneighbourhoodthanagoodfamilyinatroubledneighbourhood.
Somecommentatorsarguethatthespatialconcentrationofsocialdisadvantageisaresultofpoorneighbourhoodsbecomingspatiallysegregatedfromlocaleconomies(seeMcGahey,1986,forexample).
Economicsegregationsetsintrainprocessesthatfurtherisolatetheseneighbourhoods41because,asMcGahey(1986)suggests,residentsinpoor,high-crimeneighbourhoods,tendtoderivetheirlivelihoodsfromthe'informaleconomy'and'secondarysector'labourmarkets,characterisedbylowwagesandsporadic,dead-endwork,supplementedby:governmenttransfers,employmentandtrainingprogrammes,crimeandillegalhustleswhichconstituteimportantadditionalsourcesofincome,socialorganisationandidentityfortheurbanpoor.
Anotherkeycharacteristicofhigh-crimeneighbourhoodsisthatskilled,economicallymobile,adultworkersleavethemandtheirdepartureservestofurtherdestabilisetheneighbourhood,therebydeepeningfamilypoverty.
Hewrites:Thequalityandquantityofjobsinaneighbourhooddeterminethewayspeopleformhouseholds,regulatetheirown,andthepublicbehaviourofothers,andusepublicservices.
Theresultingneighbourhoodatmospherethenhelpstoshapetheincentivesforresidentstoengageinlegitimateemploymentorincome-orientedcrime.
Ahighlevelofadultinvolvementinprimarysectoremploymentspawnsstablehouseholds,stablefamilies,stablesocialrelationshipsandenhancedvocationalopportunitiesforthenextgeneration.
And,ofcourse,alowlevelofadultinvolvementinprimarysectoremploymentproducestheopposite.
Socio-politicalmarginalisationAfurthercharacteristicoftheseneighbourhoodsisthatresidentstendnottobeconnectedtolocallyinfluentialsocialandpoliticalnetworks(Wilson,1987).
Thisdeniestheminformationaboutsocial,educationalorvocationalopportunityaswellasaccesstothepoliticalinfluencethatcouldimprovetheirsituation(Morris,1995).
Itisnotthatpeopleintheseneighbourhoodshaveno'socialcapital'butratherthattheirsocialcapitaltendstobe'sustainingbutconstraining',enablingthemto'getby',tosurvivetheday-to-daystruggle,butnotto'geton',bymovingoutoftheirpresentsituationandintothesocialandeconomicmainstream(Densley,2013;DeSouzaBriggs,1998;PettitandMcLanahan,2001).
42Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondTheroleofpreventionThereisanintuitiveappealforschool-basedpreventativework.
Acrossthecountry,variousprojectsundertakeschoolsworkofthisnaturewhich,accordingtotheyoungpeopleinvolved,seemstobefairlysuccessful.
TheMPS'sGrowingAgainstGangsandViolence(GAGV)programmeinstitutedin2010hassofarreachedaround9,000schoolstudentsinLambeth.
ThishasbeendevelopedinpartnershipwithLambethschools(AndellandPitts,2013).
However,ifevidenceexiststosupportaclaimthatthiskindofinterventionactuallystopsyoungpeoplegettinginvolvedingangcrime,itisnotknowntotheresearchers.
ResearchintheUSsaysschoolsworkdoesnotmakemuchdifference;onthecontrary,italertssomeyoungpeoplewhowouldnototherwisehavethoughtaboutittothejoysofganglife.
Nonetheless,opportunitieswhichallowforaconversationtostartwithyoungpeopleaboutthechoicestheymakeandtheconsequencesoftheirdecisionswouldbedeemedhelpful,asamemberofStGilesTrust'sSOSProject'sschoolspreventionteamdescribes.
We'redoingschoolpreventioninterventionstuff,andwhatIfindisthisyearwe'vebeencalledintoalotofprimaryschoolstodostuffwithyearsixes,sortof,goingintoyearseven,'causethosearetheonesthat,sortof,endingupasvictimsofnegativepeerpressurefromtheirpeers,andpeoplethatareolder,sortof,manipulatingandgettingthemtodothingsthattheydon'tnecessarilywannado.
AndalotoftheyoungkidsI'mworkingwith,I'msurprised.
I'mthinking…alotoftheseyoungkidsareverysmart,intelligent,someofthemhavegotgoodbackgroundsandthey'rejust,sortof,aspiringtothewrongthingsandgoingonthewrongpath,showingoffinfrontoftheirpeers,andfallingfoultopressure.
Andoneofmykeymessageswithinmypresentationsisallittakesisonemistake.
Thatonemistakecanaffectyourwholefuture,andIjust…we,sortof,lookatawholearrayofdifferentconsequencesfromaffectingyourfamilyallthewaydowntoyourCRB,DBSchecksandstufflikethat,aswell.
Andyeah,yeah.
Thejointenterpriseisamassiveone,massive.
Projectworker,StGilesTrust'sSOSProjectOneofthedifferencesbetweentheexperiencesofgang-involvedyoungpeopleandotherreturningprisonersisthatmanywillhavebeeninvolvedingang-desistanceprogrammespriortotheirincarceration.
Becauseofthenatureoftheprocessofgangdesistance,itisnotuncommonforyoungpeopleinvolvedinthesekindsofprogrammestobearrested,convictedandimprisonedforgang-relatedoffences.
YouthworkersandmentorsintheseprogrammesinterviewedbyPitts(2011)emphasisedtheimportanceofprojectworkersmaintainingcontactwiththeseyoungpeopleduringtheirperiodofincarcerationinorderthatthedesistanceworkinwhichtheyhadbeeninvolvedwouldnotbeunderminedintheprisonortheYOI.
Theyobservedthattheseyoungpeopleoftenneededadditional,personalised,supportduringtheirreturntothecommunity,ideallyfromakeyworker,youthworkerorpeermentor,whomtheyhaveknown,trustedandkeptincontactwithduringtheirtime'inside'.
Forothervoluntarysectoragenciesinterveningwithincarceratedgangmembers,thekeytosuccessfulandsustainedinterventionappearstobemakingcontactfairlyearlyintheyoungperson'ssentence,personalisingthatcontactviahandwrittenletters,andvisitsfromoneidentifiedworker,ratherthanprintedortypedlettersorbrochureswitha'takeitorleaveit'contactaddress,and,crucially,forthesupportworkertodowhattheysaytheyaregoingtodoandtogivetheyoungpersonregularfeedbackaboutwhattheyaredoing.
TheimpactoftheTransformingRehabilitationagendaisasyetunknown.
Someresettlementprovidershavewelcomedtheextensionofstatutorypost-custodysupervisiontothosewhopreviouslydidnotbenefitfromanystatutorysupportonrelease.
Fromthepointofviewofgang-involvedyoungpeoplethismightprovideanopportunitytomaximisethepotentialfortakingadvantageoftheMODELSOFINTERVENTIONINGANG-AFFECTEDNEIGHBOURHOODS0743'windowofopportunity'thatthetransitionfromcustodytothecommunityinvolves(Bateman,HazelandWright,2013).
Othercommentators,however,havecriticisedthecompulsorynatureofthemeasures,arguingthattheymightincreasetheriskofbreachandrecall(seeforinstancePrisonReformTrust,2013).
Multi-agencyworkingEffectiveinterventionwithreturninggangmembersrequirestheparticipationofdifferentagenciesandorganisationsandevidencesuggeststhatthisisbestdeliveredviathetypeofco-located,community-based,gang-desistanceprogrammediscussedabove(BatemanandPitts,2005;Pitts,2011).
However,ifthisistohappen,theintensityanddurationoftheworkwillneedtoberecognisedinboththeprogramme'sfundingandthetrainingandsupportofferedtoitsworkers.
TheComprehensiveGangModel(seebelow)designedbySpergelfortheUSgovernment,remainstheintellectualbedrockofmostganginterventionprogrammesinNorthAmerica,mainlandEuropeandtheUKtoday(SpergelandGrossman,1998).
In1994theOfficeofJuvenileJusticeandDelinquencyPrevention(OJJDP),partoftheUSDepartmentofJustice,OfficeofJusticePrograms,launchedaseriesoffourandfive-yeardemonstrationprojects,testingthemodelinfivedifferentcities.
Oneofthelargerprogrammes,theLittleVillageGangViolenceReductionProjectinChicago,comparedoutcomesfor195'programyouths',90'quasi-programyouths'whoreceivedsomeservices,and208youthswhoreceivednoservices.
IntheirevaluationofLittleVillage,theresearchers(SpergelandGrossman,1998)concludedthat:Targetedgangmembersexperiencedfewerarrestsforseriousgangcrimescomparedwiththecontrolgroup.
Thecoordinatedprojectapproach,usingacombinationofsocialinterventionsandsuppressionwasmoreeffectiveformoreviolentyouths.
Thesoleuseofyouthworkerswasmoreeffectiveforlessviolentyouths.
Theprogrammewasmoreeffectiveinassistingolderyouthstoreducetheircriminalactivities(particularlyviolence)anddoingsomorequicklythanifnoprojectserviceshadbeenprovided.
Residentsintargetareasreportedsignificantlygreaterimprovementincommunityconditions,perceptionsofgangcrime,andpoliceeffectiveness.
TheComprehensiveGangModelOnthebasisofthisresearch,SpergelandGrossman(1998)developedtheirComprehensiveGangModelconsistingoffivekeyelements:1.
Communitymobilization.
Localcitizensandorganizationsareinvolvedinacommonenterprise.
Theprogramconsistsoflocalpoliceofficers,probationofficers,communityyouthworkers,churchgroups,boysandgirlsclubs,communityorganizations,andlocalresidentsworkingasateamtounderstandthegangstructuresandprovidesocialinterventionandsocialopportunitieswhenevertheycan.
2.
Socialintervention.
Theprogramreachesouttoyouthsunabletoconnectwithlegitimatesocialinstitutions.
Theyouth,thegangstructure,andtheenvironmentalresourcesmustbetakenintoaccountbeforetheyouthisprovidedwithcrisiscounselling,familycounselling,orreferraltoservicessuchasdrugtreatment,jobs,training,educationalprograms,orrecreation.
3.
Provisionofsocialopportunities.
Youthsatdifferentpointsintheirlivesneeddifferentthings.
Oldergangmembersmaybereadytoenterthelegitimatejobfieldandneedtrainingandeducationtodoso.
Youngeryouthsatriskofbecominggangmembersmayneedalternativeschoolsorfamilycounselling.
Theprogramshouldprovideindividualizedservicesforeachyouthbasedonhisorherneeds.
44Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond4.
Suppression.
Thisnotonlyconsistsofsurveillance,arrest,probation,andimprisonmenttostopviolentbehaviourbutalsoinvolvesgoodcommunicationbetweenagencyserviceprovidersandcontrolproviders.
Allprovidersjointlydecidewhathappenstoaparticularyouthwhentroublearisesorwhenitisaboutto.
5.
Organizationalchangeanddevelopmentoflocalagenciesandgroups.
Allworkersneedtoworkcloselywithoneanotherandcollaborate.
Formergangmembersworkingascommunityyouthworkersneedtobegivenasmuchrespectasthepoliceofficersintheprogram.
Eachgroupcanprovideimportantinformationfortheprogramthattheothermaynotbeabletoobtain.
InthreeOJJDPdemonstrationsitestherewasnostatisticallysignificantchangeinarrestpatterns,whichSpergelandGrossman(1998)attributeto'poorprogramimplementation'.
Thesecommunitieshaddifficultyestablishingsuccessfulinteragencycollaborationandtendedtoneglectoneormoreofthefiverequiredprogramelements.
OperationceasefireTheOJJDPmodel,withitsemphasisoninteragencycollaboration,communityinvolvementandjointsocialandcriminaljusticeinterventionwithgangmembers,wasakeypointofreferenceinthedevelopmentofOperationCeasefire,theinfluentialstrategydevisedbyKennedyfortheBostonPoliceGangUnitintheUSAinthe1990s.
Kennedy(2007)describeshismodelasa'focuseddeterrencestrategy,harnessingamultitudeofdifferentagenciesplusresourcesfromwithinthecommunity'.
TheobjectiveofOperationCeasefirewassimpleenough.
Itaimedtosavelivesandreduceseriousinjury.
Itdidnotaimto'smash'gangs,althoughitappearsthatdefectionfromgangswasasideeffectoftheinitiative.
Thestrategyhadthreeelements:Engagementwithgangmemberstoelicitinformation,totransmitconsistentmessagesabouttargetedcrackdownsandprovidediversionaryservicesformembersandthoseonthefringeofgangs.
Co-ordinatedleverageongangsthroughhighlypublicisedmulti-agencycrackdownsoncertainspecifiedbehavioursi.
e.
possessionoruseofknivesandfirearms,harassmentandseriousassaults.
Enhancingcommunityrelationstogetlocalsupportfortargetedcrackdowns,stimulatecommunity'collectiveefficacy'inthedevelopmentofinformalsocialcontrolandthereductionofincivilities.
DesistancestrategiesintheUKFollowingtheimplementationofOperationCeasefirein1996,arigorousanalysiswasconductedbytheJohnFKennedySchoolofGovernmentatHarvardUniversity(Bragaetal,2001),whichconcludedthattheprogrammehadbeenresponsibleforafallinyouthhomicidesinBostonfromanaverageof44peryearbetween1991and1995to26in1996and15in1997,atrendthatcontinuedduring1998and1999.
AmodifiedversionofOperationCeasefire,withitsemphasisonEngagementwithgangmembers,co-ordinatedleverageandenhancingcommunityrelationshasbeenadoptedinbothGlasgowandManchester(Aldridgeetal,2008;CIRV,2011).
TheGlasgowModelResearchundertakenbytheGlasgowpolicein2007revealedthattherewere170streetgangsinthecity,withanestimated3,500membersagedbetween11and23.
Comparingpolicereportswiththeaccountsoftraumasurgeonsandaccidentandemergencystaffshowedasmanyastwothirdsofknifecrimeswerenotbeingreportedtothepolice.
InOctober2008theScottishViolenceReductionUnitlauncheditsCommunityInitiativetoReduceViolence(CIRV).
TheGlasgowinitiativehasthreebasiccomponents:Azero-tolerancepolicewarningthatiftheviolencedoesn'tstop,relentlesstargetedenforcementwillfollow.
Acommitmentfromeducational,youthservingandsocialcareagenciesthatifyoungpeopledesistfromviolencetheywillbehelpedwitheducation,trainingandemployment.
45'Callins'whichknowngangmembersareinvitedtoattendwherefamilymembersofdeceasedorbadlyinjuredgangmembers,policeanddoctorsdetailthehumancostofgangactivityandgangcultureandtheparticipantsareinvitedtosignapledgetorenounceviolenceandworkwiththeCIRVprogramme.
Therehavebeentencallinssince2008,andofthe473gangmemberswhohaveattended,400havesigneduptoapledgeofnon-violence.
CIRVclaimsthatsinceitsinceptiontherehasbeena46%reductioninviolenceamongthosewhosignedthepledge.
Moreover,thosewhohavetakenpartinthemostintensiveprogrammesaresaidtohavecuttheiroffendingby73%andknifecarryingamongparticipantshasdroppedbyalmost60%.
However,asCIRV'sinitialresearchindicated,thesetendtobeoffenceswithlowlevelsofreporting.
Moreover,duringthesameperiodtherehasbeena25%dropinviolentoffendingamonggangmembersinareasofthecitywheretheCIRVdidnotyetoperate,whichcouldsuggestthatknowledgeoftheprogrammewashavingsomekindofpalliativeeffector,conversely,thattheCIRVprogrammeoutcomeswerebenefittingfromamoregeneraldeclineingangviolenceinthecity(ScottishViolenceReductionUnit,2011).
TheManchesterModelManchesterMulti-AgencyGangStrategy(MMAGS)waslaunchedin2001,inresponsetoresearchundertakenbyBullockandTilley(2002).
Thisresearch,basedondatacompiledbyGreaterManchesterPolice,revealedthatbetweenApril2001andMarch2002,SouthManchestergangswereresponsiblefor11fatalshootings,84seriouswoundingsand639otherincidentsofviolenceinvolvingfirearms.
Italsoshowedthatmostoftheperpetratorsandvictimswereintheirteensandthatmanyofthoseresponsiblefortheshootingshadthemselvesbeenshotatsomepoint.
Theseshootingswerehighlylocalisedtothetwomaingang-affectedareasinSouthManchester,wherein199968%oftheshootingstookplace.
30ofthe46guncrimevictimsidentifiedinthestudylivedinthesetwoareasandinthesecondhalfof1999theseareassawsixgang-relatedmurdersinfivemonths(BullockandTilley,2002).
MMAGSrepresentedapartnershipbetweenpolice,probation,theyouthoffendingservice(YOS),educationservices,housingservices,children'sservicesandstatutoryandvoluntaryyouthservices.
ThepartnershipfocusedupongangsintheLongsightandMossSideareasofsouthManchester.
BasedinpartontheBoston(USA)OperationCeasefiremodel,MMAGSaddedthreeadditionalelements:1Agangmediationservicetoaddresslong-standingrivalriesandemergingtensionsthatcausedshootings.
2Targetedprotection/containmentforvictimsandrepeatvictims,becausethosewhosurviveattacksmayretaliateorbevictimisedagain.
3Sensitisationofagenciestotheconditionsthatfostergangviolence,itseffectsandtheirresponsibilitiesunderSection17(CommunitySafety)oftheCrimeandDisorderAct(1998).
MMAGSemployedagroupoffull-timestaffsecondedfromthepolice,youthservice,educationandprobationtoformavirtualteamwhichoffereddiversionary,educational,recreationalandvocationalactivitiestoyoungpeoplein,oronthefringesof,youthgangs.
Atanyonetimetheyworkedwithupto75gang-involvedindividuals,agedbetween10and25.
Participationintheprogrammewasprimarilyvoluntary,althoughsomeyoungsterswererequiredtocooperatewithMMAGSasaconditionofacourtorderorlicence(Corrigan,2007).
Theprojectalsoransessionsinschoolsandyouthcentresonissuessuchasgangculture,firearmslegislationandpeerpressure.
AlthoughMMAGSwas,ineffect,astatutorypartnershipithadanindependentadvisorygroupcomposedofcommunitymembersanditmetregularlywithMothersAgainstViolence,Victim46Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondSupportandseveralotherlocalvoluntarysectororganisations.
Initsfirst12monthsofoperationMMAGSmadecontactwithover200gang-involvedyoungpeopleandduringthistime,onlyaround10%ofthis'targetgroup'wereknowntohavereoffended(Corrigan,2007;Pitts,2008).
MMAGShadaremarkableimpactupontheyoungpeopleittargetedandfrom2001playedamajorroleinthesteadyreductionofgangfirearmsdischarges,deathsandassociatedinjuries.
TheotherkeyelementinthesuccessoftheManchestergangstrategywasthecreationoftheXcalibregangsunitbyGreaterManchesterPolice.
InAugust2004AssistantChiefConstableIanSeabridgelaunchedtheunit,whichwaschargedwithcreating'gunfreestreets'inGreaterManchester.
Xcalibrehasthreeelements:1AsmallsquadthatfocusesonthecriminalbusinessorganisationssupplyingfirearmsandClassAdrugstogangs2Acriticalincidentteamthatinvestigatesgang-relatedshootings3TheXcalibreTaskforce;ateamofoneinspector,twosergeantsand15constablesXcalibreofficersbackedbysocialworkerssetouttoidentifygang-involvedyoungpeopleandtointroducethemselvestothem.
Patrolswentouteverydaycoveringthestreetsandthe'corners'wherethey'hungout'.
Xcalibreadoptedapolicyofneverdrivingpastasuspectbutalwaysstoppingandtalkingtothem.
Theytalkedtothemabouttheriskstothemselves,theirfamiliesandfriendsfromcontinuedganginvolvement.
Attheoutset,thistalkingservedprimarilyasawarningtotheseyoungmenandwomenaboutthepotentialconsequencesoftheirganginvolvement.
However,thistalkingwasdeliveredwithwarmthandrespect,anditwasaccompaniedbyoffersoflegitimateroutesoutofthegangviaprogrammesdevelopedbyMMAGSandtailoredtothecircumstances,interestsandcapabilitiesofindividualyoungpeople.
Thisstrategyofintensivecontacthadtheimmediateeffectofreducingthenumbersoffirearmsbeingcarriedonthestreet.
Streetgangsaresustainedthroughtherecruitmentofyoungersiblingsandtheirassociates(BRAP,2012)andsoXcalibrefocusedparticularlyonminors;theyoungersiblingsandassociatesofknowngangmemberswhotheyfoundhangingoutwiththemonthestreetsandwhowerethereforeassumedtobevulnerabletoganginvolvement,andhence'atrisk'.
Thepoliceandsocialworkerstakethemhomeandissuetheirparentswitha'StatementofConcern'.
This'StatementofConcern'triggersamulti-agencycaseconferencewhichincludesrepresentativesfromeducation,health,probationandthelocalsafeguardingboard,toconsiderthevulnerabilityofthechildoryoungperson,theirsiblingsandassociates,andtoputinplacearelevantsocialintervention.
From2007,theaverageageofgang-involvedyoungpeoplebegantorise,indicatingthatthestrategyofdivertingyoungersiblingsandassociatesawayfromgangcrimewasworking.
AnotherearlysignofsuccessforthisnewstrategycamewhenGreaterManchesterPolicerecordedthelargestgapbetweenfirearmsdischargesinManchester,frommid-FebruarytoJuly2008,since1990.
Thiscoincidedwiththesentencingof11high-profilemembersoftheGoochClosegangwhichdemonstratedthatgang-relatedoffendingwouldattractseveresentences.
From2009,thelongprisonsentencesimposedonnotoriouslocalgangsters,'intensive'policingandtheco-locationofamulti-disciplinaryteamsawdeathandinjuryresultingfromfirearmscrimefallevenfurther,untilin2012/13therewerenofirearmsfatalitiesinLongsightorMossSide.
AtaleoftwocitiesBoththeGlasgowandManchestermodelsderivefromBoston'sOperationCeasefirebuttheyhavedevelopeddifferently.
WhileGlasgowhasembraceda'publichealth'model(Ritter,2009)inwhichgang-relatedviolenceisregardedasakindofintergenerationallytransmitted'epidemic',Manchesterhasadoptedwhatmightbedescribedasan'ecological'model(Suttles,1972)inwhichgang-relatedyouthviolenceisseenprimarilyasafunctionofneighbourhoodhistories,the47contemporarysocialnetworksinwhichindividualsareembedded,theirrelationshipwithupperecheloncriminalbusinessorganisationsandtheeffectsofsocialandethnicchangeonthenatureandlevelofyouthviolence.
TheManchesterstrategyisalsosegmented,pursuingdifferentstrategiesfordifferentelementsofthegangproblem.
However,thesedifferencesofapproacharenotsimplyconceptual,andmaybeshapedbyrealdifferencesinthehistoriesandcharacteristicsofthesocial,culturalandethnicgroupstheytarget.
Present-dayGlasgowgangshavetheiroriginsintheconflictswhicharoseinthecityinthe1880s.
TheoriginalGlasgowgangsweredividedbetweenthosewhichweresolelyterritorialandthosethatcombinedterritorialandsectarianallegiances.
WhileoriginallyalargelyProtestantcity,inthelate19thandearly20thcenturylargenumbersofpoorIrishRomanCatholicsmigratedtoGlasgow,drawnbythejobopportunitiesintheheavyindustriesaroundtheClydeandthebetterqualityoflifetheyoffered.
Asaresult,youthgangsformedinthelow-incomeneighbourhoodsinwhichthemigrantssettled.
Withtheadventofmassunemploymentintheearly1930stheconflictsintensifiedanditbecamefairlycommonformenintheir20sandeven30storemainactivemembersofstreetgangs(Davies,1998).
Unlikegang-affectedneighbourhoodsinLondonandManchester,whicharecharacterisedbyhousingchurnassuccessivewavesofmigrantspassthroughthem,thepopulationsofGlasgow'sgang-affectedneighbourhoodshaveremainedfairlystableoverseveralgenerations.
Moreover,whereasgang-involvedyoungpeopleinLondonandManchestertendtobeimplicatedindrugdealing,inGlasgowtheproblemofviolenceiscompoundedbyhighlevelsofalcoholconsumptionandillicitdruguse(Harding,2014;Pitts,2008).
TheGlasgowmodelisbasedontheassumptionthatapredispositionforviolenceisaconsequenceofintergenerationalculturaltransmissionwhichcanbeidentifiedatanearlyageorstageinthechildoryoungperson'sdevelopment(seesectiononearly/late-onsetyouthviolenceonpage16).
Thus,interventionsaimtomitigateorneutralisethesefamilially-inducedchildhoodriskfactors.
Implicitinthisapproachisthebeliefthat,overtime,apredispositionforviolencecan,ineffect,be'bred-out'ofthetargetedpopulations.
48Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondIntheirreviewofdesistanceresearchundertakenfortheUSNationalGangCenter,Arciaga-YoungandGonzalez(2013)outlinetheprincipleswhichshouldinforminterventionswithgang-involvedyoungpeople.
Theyemphasisethateffectiveinterventiontakesplacewhentheclientrecognises,orisencouragedtorecognise,thattheyarereadytoleavethegangandliveinadifferentway.
Atthispointtheysuggest:Interventionistsshouldhaveacurrentworkingknowledgeoflocalgangsandgangdynamics.
Interventionistsshouldcoachclientsoninteractionswiththegangandavoidingsafetyrisks.
Interventionistsshouldworktoestablishconnectionswithlawenforcementandcriminaljusticeagenciestoaddressissueswithclientsafety.
Interventionistsshouldestablishrelationshipswithagenciesthatassistwitheducation,employment,substanceabuse,familyproblems,andotherservicesclientsneed.
Gangdesistanceisalong-termprocessthatinvolveshelpingclientsidentifyandchangetheirself-image,internalscripts,personalbehaviour,andgoals.
Desistanceplansneedtobedevelopedandrevisedasnecessarybasedonaclient'scurrentneeds.
Interventionistsshouldreachouttofamilymembers,andsupportiveprofessionalswhocanencourageandsupportclients'effortstochange.
PuttingitintopracticeAstudyof'commissioning'or'publicservicepurchasing'undertakenbytheSocialScienceResearchUnitattheInstituteforEducation,London(SocialScienceResearchUnit,2009)concludedthatjointcommissioningissuccessfulwhere:Therearetrustingrelationshipsbetweenthecommissionersandcommissionedservicesbuiltupovertimebycontinuityofstaff.
Thereisclarityaboutresponsibilitiesandlegalframeworks,particularlyinrelationtosharedorpooledfinances.
Thereisco-terminositybetweenorganisationalandgeographicalboundaries.
Thereareclearstructures,informationsystemsandcommunicationsbetweenstakeholders.
ThesuccessoftheMMAGSisattributableinnosmallparttothefactthatitfulfilledmostofthecriteriaspecifiedbytheSocialScienceResearchUnit.
Representativesoftherelevantagencieswereco-locatedandanagreementwasreachedbetweentheleaderofthecouncilandthechiefconstabletoring-fenceexpenditureonthegangstrategyandtoofferincentivesforpersonneltostayintheirrespectiverolesforseveralyearsinordertodevelopacultureoftrustbetweenthestatutoryagenciesandvoluntarysectorproviders,aswellaseffectiveformalandinformalmechanismsforsharinginformation.
InGangsattheGrassRoots:CommunitySolutionstoStreetViolence,BrandandOllerenshaw(2009)suggestthatintegratedmulti-agencygangstrategiesaresuccessfultotheextentthatthosecommissioningthemareabletoexertcontrolorinfluenceover:TheintegrationofcommunitymembersintothestrategyThecredibilityandcapacityofthestrategyDEVELOPINGAGANG-DESISTANCESTRATEGY0849ThecoordinationofthestrategyThecommissioningofthestrategyThereviewofthestrategyThetargetingoflocalinterventionsTothatendtheycommendtheestablishmentofaStrategyandCommissioningBoardwhichwouldinclude:ThecouncilleaderortherelevantcabinetmemberThedirectorofchildrenandyoungpeople'sservicesAseniorpoliceofficerwithresponsibilityforthepolicingofgangsAseniorrepresentativefromtheYOSAseniorrepresentativefromprobationThechairofthevoluntarysectorchildrenandyoungpeople'sgroupRotatingrepresentationfromprogrammeprovidersTheyouthmayorPreviousparticipantsincommissionedgangprogrammesAbodynotdissimilartothiswasestablishedbyMMAGSinManchesterintheearlypartofthe21stcenturyandremainsinfluential.
However,thismodelfailstoincludecrucialcomponentsofanintegratedgangstrategy;namelyseniorrepresentationfromcommunitysafetyprofessionalsandschools.
Moreover,italsofailstospecifywheretheday-to-dayleadershipofthestrategywouldlieandthedegreeofauthoritythatwouldbeinvestedinsuchleadership,particularlyinrelationtothejointcommissioningofservices.
High-profileleadershipandhigh-levelsupporthavebeenafeatureofboththeGlasgowandManchestergangstrategies.
TheprerequisitesofeffectivepartnershipworkingIn2010theHomeOfficeestablished12pilotsitestoexplorehowcommunitysafetypartnershipscouldtackleorganisedcrimemoreeffectively(vanStadenetal,2011).
Criticalcomponentsofsuccessfulpartnershipsprovedtobeacombinationofstrongpartnershiparrangements,availableresources,particularlystafftime,andawillingnessandabilitytoshareinformation.
ThisechoesthefindingsofMcGarrelletal(2006)whosestudyofpartnershipapproachestotacklingguncrimeintheUSindicatedthatthemoreoftheseelementsthatwerepresent,thegreaterthereductionsinfirearmsincidents.
Otherfactorsfoundtofacilitateeffectivepartnershipworkingwere'strategicoversight'(McGarrelletal,2006),thepresenceofschemechampions(Davisonetal,2010),ensuringbuy-inandmutualbenefitacrossagenciesandgoodcommunicationbetweenpartnerorganisations(McGarrelletal,2006;Winterfieldetal,2006).
Inasimilarvein,reviewsofMulti-AgencyPublicProtectionArrangements(MAPPA)suggestthatimprovedcommunicationbetweenpartnerorganisationsandthedevelopmentofcommonobjectivescanenhanceeffectivepartnershipworking.
ReviewsofbothIntegratedOffenderManagement(Senioretal,2011)andtheProlificandPriorityOffenderScheme(Dawson,2007)echothesefindings.
Clearly,multi-agencyresponsestoproblemsofcrimeandviolence,inwhichinformationissharedandactionistakenbyapluralityofagenciescanbeextremelyeffective(seeforexampleFlorenceetal,2011).
Thereare,however,somebarrierstobeovercomeifmulti-agencyinitiativesaretorealisetheirfullpotential.
50Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondThecostsandbenefitsofpartnershipworkingAcommonlyidentifiedbarrierconcernsthecomplexitiesofdataprotectionlegislationandthestruggletoharmonisetheplethoraofagencydata-sharingprotocolswhichmulti-agencypartnershiprequires(Pitts/GMP,2013).
Occupationalandprofessionalculturescanalsoprovetobeastumblingblocktoinformationexchange(Souhami,2007).
IntheirreviewofinteragencyinformationsharingRichardsonandAsthana(2006)examinethewaysinwhichprofessionalculturesshapetheinter-organisationalexchangeofpersonalinformationinahealthandsocialcarecontext.
Theyposefourmodelsofinformation-sharingbehaviours('ideal','over-open','over-cautious'and'chaotic')andsuggestthatpatternsofinformationsharingmaybeinfluencedbythewaysinwhichtheprofessionshavetraditionallyrelatedtooneanother.
InasimilarveinWhiteandFeatherstone(2005)foundthatthegovernmentalemphasisonrestructuringservicestofacilitatebettercommunicationbetweendifferentdisciplinesnotwithstanding,co-locationdidnotstraightforwardlyleadtobettercommunication.
Theysuggestthattime-honoured'professionalnarratives'mayservetomaintain'ritualisedwaysofworking'whichreinforceratherthanloosenprofessionalboundaries.
AbstractionversusembeddednessAfurtherbarriertoeffectivenessconcernsthepositioningofganginterventionprogrammes.
Asalreadydescribedonpage23,researchfortheChildren'sCommissionerforEngland(Beckettetal,2013)revealedthatingang-affectedneighbourhoodstheviolentandsexualvictimisationofchildrenandyoungpeople,whilecommonplace,wasseldomreportedtothe'authorities'becauseofabeliefamongstyoungpeoplethattheywouldbepowerlesstostopitandthatofficialinterventionmightwellmakemattersworsebysettingthemupforfurthervictimisation.
Mostoftheagenciesestablishedtodealwithperpetratorsorto'safeguard'victims,areessentiallyreactive;interveningaftertheeventinresponsetoareferral;abstractingtheyoungpeoplefromtheirneighbourhoodandthenputtingthemthroughtime-limitedagency-basedprogrammesbeforereturningthemtothesituationinwhichtheiroffencesorvictimisationoccurred.
Asaresult,theseagenciesareunabletorespondtotheday-to-dayrisksofganginvolvement,orthesocialandpsychologicalconsequencesoflivingingang-affectedneighbourhoods.
Theycannotrespondtounreportedvictimisationnorintervenetopre-emptitandnoraretheyabletomediatebetweenpotentialadversaries.
Thisisnottosaythattheseservicesareirrelevanttoagangstrategy,buttheexperiencesofbothGlasgowandManchestersuggestthatembeddingworkersingang-affectedneighbourhoodsandnetworksisacrucialprerequisiteofeffectiveintervention.
51ResettlementinthecommunityDespitethefactthatthereareasignificantnumberofresettlementprogrammesavailabletothoseinpenalinstitutions,manyprovidedbythevoluntarysector,thereisnocentralpointwhereinformationaboutthemisheld.
Respondentsatthefocusgroupsfeltthatknowledgeoftheprovisionthatcouldbeavailableonreleasewouldreducetensionwithintheinstitution.
However,someoftheseservicesappearedtofocusontheirownneedsfirst,intermsofopeninghours,availabilityofworkersandwillingnesstomeetyoungpeoplepriortorelease,whichrespondentssawascrucialtopost-releasesuccess.
Theysaiditwasimportantthatwhatevertheagencywas,itshouldbeabletocoordinatetheresettlementprogrammewiththeotheragenciestopreventtheyoungpeoplefromhavingtotelltheirstoriesdozensoftimestodifferentpeopleand,eventually,fallingthroughthenetasaresultoffrustrationwiththeprocess.
Respondentssuggestedthatprisonersmayneedanadvocatewhowillhelpthemtoaccesstherelevantservices.
ThiswascertainlythecaseforRachelwhoviewedhersocialworkeras,whilstconsistent,anegativeinfluenceandindeedresponsiblefordecisionswhichwerenotinvolvingoragreedtobyRachel.
Asfarasplanninggoes,Icanrecall…alotofmypastisactuallyveryblurry'causeI'vebeenthroughalotofstuffandcompartmentalisationandallofthat,butIhaveamemoryofamassiveconferenceandtherewasloadsandloadsofpeoplethatIdidn'tknowwhotheywere,andIwasjust…theywerealltalkingaboutmeandIwasjust,like,atoneendofthetablejustlookingatallthesepeoplethinkingwhoareyouallMm,everybodyknowsRachelbutIdon'tknowwhomostofthesepeopleare.
Andthenmysocialworkerwalkedinandsatdown,andIrememberfeelingsoangrytowardsthispersonbecauseshewastheonethatusedtoshipmearoundallovertheplace,anditwasthemomentthatIgotputincarethatIstartedwithmycriminalbehaviourandI'vejust,kindof,like,lostmycool.
IhadahotchocolateandIjumpedonthetableandIranacrossthetableandIthrewit.
Andfromtheretheyjustsaidno,shehasn'tchanged.
She'sobviouslyjust…stillcrazy,andstufflikethat.
Sotheyjustliterallycarriedonwiththeplansthattheyhadbefore,justputmeinamoresecureenvironment.
Therewasnorelationshipwithmysocialworker,andnobodywastryingtohavearelationshipwithme,andthat'swhyIhadsomuchhatetowardsthem,becauseit's,like,myquestionwasyoudon'tknowmeandyou'veneverhadaconversationwithmebutyou'resoopinionatedandyou…you'retheonemakingallthedecisionsaboutmylife.
Sothatwas,like,reallyemotionalforme,andthat's,obviously,whyIusedto,obviously,notactappropriatelyanddothingslikethrowchocolatearound.
RELEASEANDBEYOND:RESETTLEMENTPRACTICEINTERVENTIONS09RACHEL'SSTORY52Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondBESTPRACTICEPROJECTAThisexamplefromProjectA*showsthebenefitsofplanningwhichstartsinsidecustody,aconsistentcaseworkerandsignpostingtolocalservices.
Danielmethiscaseworkerinprisonthreetimespriortohisrelease.
Duringthesevisits,theworkerwasabletohearaboutDaniel'sbackgroundfirst-hand,andexplainthedetailsofProjectA'smentoringservice.
Theyagreedtoworktogether,andcompletedtherequiredpaperwork.
Asanactivememberofawell-establishedgang,Danielhadbeenreferredtotheprojectbythelocalmulti-agencyteamtargetingseriousyouthviolence.
Hewasdeemedtoposearisktothepublicand,uponreleasefromprison,wasforbiddentoreturntohishomearea.
Danielhadnowheretolive,andhislocalcouncilwereunabletoofferhimaccommodation.
Whenacharityfoundhimaroominasharedhouse,hetookit.
Itwasmilesawayfromanythingheknew.
OnthedayofDaniel'srelease,hiscaseworkermethimattheprisongate.
Danielwasnotwelltravelledand,havingmovedprisonsafewtimesduringhissentence,didn'treallyknowwherehewas.
Daniel'scaseworkeraccompaniedhimtohisfirstmeetingwithhisnewYOT.
DanielandhiscaseworkerthenwalkedaroundDaniel'snewhometown.
TheylocatedthelikelyresourcesthatDanielwouldneedincludingtransportlinks,thepostoffice,thejobcentre,thehousingofficeandthepolicestation.
TheyboughtDanielsomesheetsandaquilt.
Theirnextappointmentwaswiththelandlord,andDanielsignedhisfirsttenancyagreement.
Afterabagofchips,thefinalstopwasthesupermarketwheretheyboughtbasiccrockery,asaucepan,afewutensilsandenoughfoodtoseeDanielthroughthenextfewdays.
Duringthefirstweek,hiscaseworkerhelpedDanieltoorganisehisJobseeker'sAllowance(JSA)andhousingbenefitclaims.
TheyalsoopenedabankaccountforDaniel,sohecouldsetupadirectdebitforhisservicecharges.
AspartofhisIntensiveSupervisionandSurveillanceOrder,Danielmetwithhiscaseworkertwiceaweekforafewmonths.
Theyalsokeptinregularcontactbyphone.
TheyaddressedconflictmanagementandregularlydiscussedthenegativeinfluenceofDaniel'soldpeergroups.
DanielisnowenrolledincollegewhereheisretakinghisGCSEs.
Asfarashiscaseworkerknows,Danielisnotoffending.
TheyarenowfocusedongettingDanielsomepermanentaccommodationanddeepeninghistentativelocalroots.
*Thenameoftheprojecthasbeenchangedtomaintainconfidentiality.
Afurtherdifficultyforresettlementagenciesistherecentlyintroducedpolicyofmovingprisonerstoaresettlementprisoninthefinalweekorsooftheirsentence.
Thiscanmeanthatworkdoneinthepenalinstitutionmaycometonothingbecausethesupportworkerlosestouchwiththeprisoneratacrucialmoment.
Thoseinterviewedsaidthatresettlementworkneedstofocusonraisingthelowaspirationsofsomeyoungpeoplewhileintroducingsomerealismintotheaspirationsofothers.
Unlesstheyoungpersonissufficientlymotivatedandtherightservicesandresourcesareinplace,thereisadangerofthemgoingbacktothegangwithwhichtheygotintothetroublethatledtoimprisonment.
Post-releaseworkcanaddressissuesaroundself-perceptionandidentity,angermanagement,substanceand/oralcoholmisuse.
Theproblemwassummedupsuccinctlybyoneyoungrespondentsaying'I'vechangedbuttheworldhasn't'.
53Beyondacknowledgingindividualdifferenceitisimportanttorecognisethatmaturityseldomcomesat18or20.
Protractedadolescenceseemstobeacharacteristicofmanygang-involvedyoungpeopleandthisisexacerbatedbyimprisonmentandserviceprovidershavetoberealisticaboutthis.
TheTransitiontoAdulthoodAlliancepointstoevidencefromdesistanceresearchthat18-24yearoldsaretheagegroupmostlikelytodesistand'growoutofcrime'andclaimthatdevelopmentalmaturityisabetterguidetosomeone'sstageinreachingadulthood.
Forsome,an18thbirthdaycanbeatimeofmaximumriskandvulnerability,yetthisisalsothetimewhenyoungpeopleencounterchangestolegislativeframeworksandstatutoryexpectationswhichareoftencharacterisedasmorepunitiveastheymovefromYOSintoprobationservices.
Toooften,serviceprovidersareexpectingyoungpeopletoactlikeadults.
Youngpeople'ssupportneedsshouldbeidentifiedandnegotiatedwithindividualsatthepointtheyaresentencedand,ideally,followedthroughbythesameworker.
Respondentsfeltthat'pathwayplanning';breakingdowntheaspirationsofprisonersintoaseriesofstepscanbeextremelyuseful,particularlyiftheyarementoredbysomeonewhohastakenthosestepsthemselves.
Allrespondentswereagreedthatsustainedandconsistentsupportwasofparamountimportanceandthatshort-termcommissioningshouldbeavoided.
ThisprincipleofeffectiveengagementisdescribedintheworkofCarney'sCommunity.
Carney'sCommunitywassetupin2011tosupportyoungpeopleatriskofoffending.
YoungpeoplearereferredtoCarney'sCommunitybyYOTs,thepolice,probation,socialservicesandschools.
Theserviceaimstosupportyoungpeopletomovethroughthefollowingdifferentstages:1Allyoungpeoplehaveboxingsessionsordrop-inactivitiesastheirstartpoint(pre-contemplation).
2Youngpeoplestarttowanttochangeandimprovetheirlives(contemplation).
3Youngpeopleagreeapersonaldevelopmentplanwhichoutlineshowtheywilladdresstheiroffendingbehaviour(preparation).
4Youngpeopleworkontheirpersonaldevelopment(action).
5Youngpeoplearereferredtoeducation,trainingandemploymentopportunities(maintenance).
6Itishighlylikelythatyoungpeoplewillhavetogothroughthefirstfourstagesanumberoftimes.
Staffworkwiththemuntiltheyarereadytosignuptoanotherpersonaldevelopmentplan(relapse).
In2013,Carney'sCommunitymentored24high-riskyoungpeopleandoutcomeswerepositive.
Eightwereeitherhomelessoratriskofbecominghomeless,andtheyallgainedormaintainedhousing.
Ofthe20seekingeducation,trainingoremployment,eightgainedpaidwork,seven(re-)engagedineducationand11engagedinvolunteering.
Allofthosewithproblematicfamilysituationsreportedimprovement.
17reducedorstoppedtheiroffending.
Engagementandchangetaketime.
Short-termmentoring,deliveredwhenanagencydeemsitnecessary(andaffordable)canundermineengagement.
Carney'sCommunityofferssupportwhichisconsistentandnottimelimited.
BESTPRACTICECARNEY'SCOMMUNITYAARON'SSTORY54Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondThereareparticulartimeswhenrecentlyreleasedyoungpeoplearelikelytorelapseintocriminality,especiallyiftheyhavehadtoberelocated.
Servicesandindividualsupportneedtobeavailablewhenyoungpeoplearemostlikelytofeellonelyandisolated,oftenonFridaynightsandatweekends.
Respondentsagreedthat'throughthegate'isreallyimportantbutfeltitwasoftenrhetoricratherthanreality.
ForAaron,beinrelocateduponreleasewasachallengingtime,duringwhichheneededsupport.
TheimmediatetimeafterreleasewasverychallengingbutAaroncopedwellwithsettlingbackintothecommunityandhisnewarea.
However,astimewentonandthepracticalissueswereresolved,itbecameclearthatleavingbehindfamily,friendsandhiscommunitywasverydifficultemotionally.
Aaron'srelationshipwithhislong-termgirlfriendhadalsobrokendownasaresultofthemove.
Aaronhadlosthissupportnetworkoffamilyandfriendsandspentalotoftimealone.
AlthoughstatutoryservicesconsideredAaron'sfriendsasanegativeinfluence,theywerealsothefriendshehadhadsinceearlychildhood.
DuringthisperiodthesupportAaronneededseemedsimilartothatrequiredbysomeonewhohadbeenmovedaspartofwitnessprotection.
Aaronwasprohibitedfromcontactinghisoldfriendsaspartofhislicence,butalsointermsofrisk,andcouldnotreturnhometoseefamily.
AfterAaronhadbeeninthecommunityforafewmonthsaclosefriendwasmurderedinAaron'shomeareaandhewasunabletoreturnforthefuneralortobeamongfriendstogrieveduetotherisk.
Aaronbecamedepressedduringthisperiodandemotionalsupportwasprovided.
AtthistimeitwasadailychallengetokeepAaroninhisnewareaandpreventhimfromreturningtohisoldareaandlifestyle.
Aaronhad,however,beenassistedtotryvarioushobbiesandbecamehappierwhenhediscoveredMuayThaiandjoinedalocalclub,andthisalsohelpedAarontostopsmokingcannabis.
ExtrasupportwasprovidedonsignificantdateslikeAaron'sbirthdayandChristmas.
TheseperiodswereverydifficultasithighlightedthepeopleandlifestylethatAaronfelthehadlostandmadehimquestionhiscommitmenttohisnewareaandlife.
Emotionallyandmentally,relocatinggaveAaronthechanceofafreshstartbutalsomeantlonelinessandisolation.
Itisofteneasytoforgetthatalifefreefromoffendingisnotjustaboutmakingpracticalchangesalthoughtheseareobviouslyessential.
NotonlydidAaronneedaccommodationandtostarteducationfromabeginner'slevel,healsohadtoadjusttoalifestylethatdidnotinvolvethepowerandstatuswhichhepreviouslyhad.
55StaffingYouthworkersinvolvedingang-desistanceprogrammesinLondoninterviewedbyPitts(2011)andtheBYCresearchteampointtothepressuresuponpreviouslygang-involvedpeermentors(ex-gang-involvedyoungpeopleworkingasassistantyouthworkersinagang-desistanceprogramme).
Whileontheonehandtheirpreviousnotorietymeansthattheyarereadilyacceptedby,andinfluentialwith,theirgang-involvedpeers,itisalsothecasethatsuchcredibilityhingesupontheircontinuingassociationwiththegang.
Thisispartlybecauseitisdifficulttoleavethegangwithoutleavingtheneighbourhood,butalsobecausethesegangmembersareoftenclosefriendswithwhomtheyhavegrownupor,indeed,theirbrothersorcousins.
Youthworkersobservethatthiscansometimesleadtoasituationinwhichtheyaresubjecttopressureto'backup'fellowgangmembersandthiscanbeaparticularproblemifthe'beef'concernsanattackonasiblingoraclosefriend.
Thepeermentorsconfirmthatinsome,extreme,situationsthereis'nochoice'.
Soweneedtobeonestepahead,andbecauseofthatwhatwedois,weroutinelygetfeedbackfromtheclientsandthestaffastowhatweshouldbedoing,andthenwehavetocontinuouslyinnovateourprocess.
Butwealsohavetobewarythatitonlytakesonemistakefromanyoneofusandthenthatcanmake,youknow,theprojectloseitscredibility,like,youknow,so,forexample,workingtoocloselywiththepolice,or,forexample,havinganissuewithaworkerthatstartsreoffendingandwe'renotontopofit.
Itcanjustruintheproject'scredibilityforeithersideandthat'ssomethingthatweneedtomaintain.
ProjectmanagerAgenciesneedtorecognisethatmentorscanbedrawnfromthewholeofsocietyandthatanex-gang-affiliatedmentordoesnotalwaysmakethebestfitbecauseonesizedoesnotfitall.
Respondentsfeltthatrecruitingpeoplewithpassionwhocouldbepositiverolemodels,enablingyoungpeopletomakesenseofwhatitisthatawomanoramanismeanttobeisimportant.
Theyemphasisedtheneedfortherightkindofsupportforworkerswhoalsoneededtofeelneeded,wantedandcaredforiftheyweregoingtodothatfortheyoungpeople.
Theypointedtothehighlevelofburn-outiftheagencydidnot'lookafteritsstaff'.
Youngpeoplewereclearthatstaffneededtodemonstrateconsistencyandcareiftheyweretobuildeffectiverelationshipswiththeyoungpeople.
Becausethesearehereallthetime.
Thesestaffwillsitdownandspeaktoyouonalevelactually.
.
.
likejustgeneralthings,buttheyareaskingyounearenougheveryday.
Youcantelltheyareactuallyheretohelpyoungpeople.
FromwhatIcanseethisjobistiringforstaff.
Staffcomehere,theywork,theygetassaulted,theygetspaton,theygetbitjustlike.
.
.
horriblelike,thewaysthestaffgethurt,buttheystillcomeinthenextday.
Theystillcomeintwodaysafter,theystillcomehereandwork,yetyoumightthinkofthembeing.
.
.
welltheymighttheyarebeing.
.
.
HowdoIputit,adickhead,ifyoureallywantmetoputitlikethat.
17yearoldinsecurechildren'shomePersistenceinreachingoutisanotherqualityappreciatedbythisgroup.
Sheapproachedmeinamorepersonalway.
Sheevenwrotewithherownhandwriting.
ThenIthoughttomyselfshe'ssendingmestamps.
See,theselittlethings,itopensyouupalittlebit.
Shesentmestamps.
Shewas,like,oh,anytime,justmessagemeorsendmeanemail,givemeacall.
Here'smynumber.
Whenyou'rereleasedgetincontactwithme.
Soit'sa…she,obviously,kinda,builtupthatlittle…andIthoughtOK,yeah,she'shelpingme.
She'ssentmestamps,she'sconstantlysendingmeletters.
Shecares.
Butnormallypeoplejustsendyouoneletter.
Ifyoudon'treplythenyou'lljustnever…that'sthelastofit.
21-year-oldmalereleasedin2014RecognitionthatreleasefromcustodycanbestressfulandtraumaticishighlightedinotherBYCpublications.
Thefactthatsupportisneededduringtheresettlementprocessisalsowellestablished.
56Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondHowever,notwithstandingtheneedforstatutoryengagementaspartofthelicence,thereisalsoarecognitiononthepartofyoungpeoplewespoketothatsometimestheyjustwanttobeleftalone.
Beingabletorecognisethesesignsandhearthesemessageswasdeemedextremelyvaluableindevelopmentoftherelationship.
I'lltellyouwhytheydon'twannaengage,becauseI'vefeltlikethatmyself.
I'vehadsomeonetellingmewhattodoforthelastfouryears.
DoIreallywantsomeoneelsetellingmewhattodoagainPlainandsimple.
Andthesoonerthatisunderstoodthebetter.
Andyoucan'tsaywellthey'vegottobecausethey…no,theydon't,becausethey'vedonetheirtime.
Youwanttoseeyourfamilyandfriends,butwhoyoudon'twanttoseeisacaseworker.
Sometimesyoudon'twannamentor…becauseit'sjust,like…invasionintoyourlife.
It's,like,well,whencanIhavemytimeI'mfreenow.
Andthat'swherealotoffailurecomesforth,forthosethatdon'tunderstandwhyprisonersseemveryoff-brushyoncetheygetout.
FemaleprojectworkerAtthefocusgroupsprofessionalssaidthatitwasunrealistictoexpectthisworktobedonebyvolunteersbecausevolunteerscouldnotdealwithalltheproblemsthrownupbythisgroup.
Aswellasmeasuringoutcomes,therewasalsoafeelingthatservicesneededtofindotherwaystodemonstrateeffectiveness.
Itwasfeltthatfeedbackfromyoungpeoplewhohadusedtheserviceshouldbetakenintoaccount,coupledwiththerecognitionthatrelationshipsoftrustarenotdevelopedovernight.
Oneprojectmanageridentifiedthesechallengesthus:Findingstable,sustainablesourcesoffunding.
Attheendofthefinancialyear,it'sachallengenottobedistractedfromthecentraltaskofreachingandworkingwithyoungpeople.
Evidencingourprocesses,outcomesandoutputsthroughviableevaluationandmonitoringwhilstminimisingtheimpactthatrecordkeepinghasonvitalworker-clienttime.
TheunhelpfulnatureoffundingregimesandthelatedecisionmakingintheawardingofcontractswithinnewcommissioningarrangementsaspartoftheTransformingRehabilitationagendahadalsocreatedsignificantservicedeliveryuncertaintiesparticularlywithregardstostaffcontractsandrenewal.
Suchuncertaintiesoftenmeansthatthepriorityofbuildingrelationshipswithclientsdiminishesasstaffshiftthefocusoftheirattentiontotheneedtoapplyfornewjobsorre-applyfortheircurrentposts.
Oneprojectwhichhasbeenabletomanagethedifficultiesidentifiedonpage56andmakethenecessaryadaptationswhilstestablishingitselfasacredibleresettlementprojectforgang-involvedyoungpeopleisStGilesTrust'sSOSProjectinLondon.
Onmyfirstnightincustody,Iaskedforhelpandwassurprisedthattherewasnosupport.
LaterItrainedasaprisonlistenerwiththeSamaritans.
ThemoreIlearned,themoreIbecameawareofmyself.
IsawthingsintheyoungpeopleIwassupportingthatIdidn'tlikeinmyself.
IronicallywhenIhadhardtimesafterIwassentenced,peopleI'dtrainedcamebackandsupportedme.
Fastforwardtotheendofmysentence.
StGileswasworkingwithapeeradvisorymodelandtheytrainedoffendersininformation,adviceandguidance.
Theheadofeducationandtrainingandskillsatmyprisonsetupameeting,andItalkedtoStGilesaboutmyidea.
Ididn'thavethesolution,butI'dgotawayofworkingwithgang-affectedyoungpeople.
Myultimategoalwasthatoffenderswouldnotonlysupportothersbutbyaprocessofdevelopmentcouldbeseenasprofessionals.
JuniorSmart,FounderofSOSSOSstartedeightyearsago.
ItishostedandsupportedbyStGilesTrust,andfundedbyamixtureofstatutoryfunding,charitabletrusts,privateindividualsandcorporatesupporters.
Itoffersintensivesupporttoyoungoffenders,bothinprisonandinthecommunity.
Trainedpeermentorsdelivertailoredsupporttohelpyoungpeopledesistfromcrime–particularlygang-relatedcrime.
SOSclientsarereferredfromawiderangeofsources.
Someareidentifiedas'gangnominals'bythepoliceorsafercommunityteams,somearriveviavictimsupportorhousingservices.
SOSrecruitsfromamongstthosethathavebeenthroughitsdoorsasvulnerableyoungpeople.
Themajorityofthestaffontheprojectaretrainedex-offendersorhavefirst-handexperienceofthecriminaljusticesystem.
Oncefullytrainedandqualified,clientsvolunteerontheteam.
Theypromotefromwithin;ifavacancyarises,itisadvertisedinternally.
TheSOSteamrecognisesandfacesprocessesofchangeheadon.
Theyexplain:1You'vegotthechangethat'shappeningfortheclient.
Asobstaclesarise,wesupportthemtoavoidthetrapsoftheir'old'repertoire.
It'snotaseasyassaying,'don'tcarryaknife'.
You'refrequentlydemandingthattheyreinventtheirlife,turntheirbackonthingsthathadpreviouslyworkedforthem.
We'veworkedwiththousandsofclients.
Thisyearwe'reontargettoworkwith600youngpeople.
Wedon'tclosecases,andweanswerourphones24/7.
2Thesupportworkerisalsochanging.
Changesareneverovernight,evenfortheworkers.
Weprovideasupportiveenvironmenttohelpstafftodevelopandovercometheirfearsandcopewithadaptation.
Theirworkwithclientsreinforcesthatchange.
3Thethirdmajorchangeisorganisational.
We'reresponsive;theproject'salwaysevolving.
Wegetfeedbackfromclientsandstaff,andweinnovate.
Thetypeofworkwedocanbepressured.
Youcanbeworkingwithyoungpeoplewhoareveryentrenchedand,hence,resistanttochange.
Youcansitinmulti-disciplinarymeetingswhereeachagencythinkstheirownperspectiveisparamount.
Youhavetokeeptheneedsoftheyoungpeopleattheheartofit.
Therearealsoissuesofpreservingprojectcredibility,andunderstandingthechangingnatureofgangsandtheiractivities.
BESTPRACTICESOSPROJECT,STGILESTRUST58Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondChallengesonreleaseRespondentsidentifiedthefollowingissuesasthemostchallengingforgang-involvedyoungpeopleleavingcustody:1AccommodationFormanygang-involvedyoungpeoplewhocannotreturnhome,themainissueisaccommodation.
Long-term,good-qualityprovisionisrequiredbecauseanitinerantlifestylemakesthesecurityofganginvolvementmoreattractive.
Theyareoftenreluctanttoshareandoftenneedhelpwithsustainingtheirtenancy.
TherestrictionsimposedonrecipientsofJSAandhousingbenefitsvis-à-visearningscanbeproblematic.
Jon'sstoryonpage59describesthearrangementswhichneededtobemadetofindsafeaccommodationforayoungpersonwhocouldn'treturnhome.
Gettingsomeonerehousedusedtobeachallenge,butitwasn'timpossible.
Withhousingstockatanall-timelow,it'sextortionateprivaterenting.
Igetthiskidaccommodation,andhe'skeentogetajob.
Wedothesums,andoncehe'soffhousingbenefit,intopaidwork,heneedsa25grandayearjob.
Andyouthink,'haveIsetthisyoungkiduptofail'ProjectworkerProgrammeslikeSafeandSecureinLondonaimtorelocategang-involvedyoungpeoplewhoareathighriskfromothergangs.
Thisisdifficultbecausetheyoungpersonmusteitherleavetheirfamilyortheirfamilymustleavetheirhomeand,indoingso,cutmanyoftheirties.
Theproblemiscompoundediftheaccommodationtheyareofferedappearstobeinferiortothattheyarebeingforcedtoleave.
TheSafeandSecureprogrammemayinvolvewholefamilyrelocationandthiscancreateenormousstressbecausefamilymembersarerequiredtoabandontheirlocalcommunitynetworks,education,employmentetc.
Manypractitionersandyoungpeoplethemselveshavestatedthatthethresholdsfortheprogrammearetoohighandunrealistic.
AnEveningStandardarticle(Cohen,2014)retoldLeon'sstoryandhisattemptstobecomeeligiblefortheSafeandSecureprogrammeandtosubsequentlysecurepermanenthousingviahislocalauthority.
TherewereanumberofsignificanterrorsinthemanagementofLeon'scaseincludingplacinghiminthesameaccommodationasthreerivalgangmembers.
AsaresultofabreachwherebyLeonwasseenasassociatingwithanoldfriendhereceivedaletterfromhislocalauthorityprincipalreviewofficerstating'Thatyouhavebeenstabbedover20timesandthesubjectofagunattackdoesnotnecessarilyequatetoyoubeingvulnerable.
'Itconcluded'Youdonothaveapriorityneed'andgavehimamonthtoleavehistemporaryaccommodation.
Difficultiesalsoariseiftheyoungpersondriftsbacktotheirneighbourhoodoforiginbecauseoffeelingsoflonelinessandisolation,thusputtingthemselvesatrisk,or,converselytheysettleintotheirnewareaandsetupanoutpostthatenablestheiroldgangtoexpanditsdrug-dealingterritory.
Resettlementservicesandaccommodationprovidersalsoneedtotakecareoftheculturalneedsoftheirclientgroup.
Whilstaccesstofaith-basedservicesisavailableformostincustody,ensuringsensitivesupportisavailablepost-releaseisimportant.
TheDatePalmProjectisanexampleofjustsuchaninitiative(seep59).
TheDatePalmProjectisanaccommodation-basedserviceofferinga'throughthegate'serviceforyoungmaleMuslimex-offenders.
Theservicehasbeenrunningforsixmonthsandhasnowworkedwithsixindividuals.
TheservicewasfirstdevelopedbychaplaincyimamsatFelthamYOIandtheNationalZakatFoundation,alongsidetheBetterBusinessCommunityNetworkwhofundit.
StMungo'sBroadwayistheservicedeliverypartner.
ThechaplaincyatFelthamYOIandStMungo'sBroadwaystaffreferyoungmentotheserviceandsupportthembeforetheyarereleased.
Thestaffworkwithprobationaroundthetimeofrelease,meetingyoungmenatthegateandprovidingaccommodationandongoingsupportfor12months.
Theserviceaimstosupportitsresidentstoleavetheiroffendinglifestylebehindandentereducation,trainingandemployment.
Itachievesthisthroughwhatstaffdescribeas:Thepowerfulcombinationofhavingapsychologicallyinformedenvironmentwithfaithaspectstohelprepairpeopleemotionallyandspiritually.
Theservicecontinuestoevolvetomeetindividuals'needs,andfacesthedailychallengeofchangingclients'learntbehavioursandpreconceptions,puttingtheminapositionwithanewsetofcopingstrategiesandanewfoundmaturitytobeabletochoosetherightpathforthemselves.
DatePalmProjectmanagerIn2012,Jonwascomingtotheendofhisdetentionandtrainingorderinasecuretrainingcentre.
HehadservedtwoyearsforarmedrobberyandwasduetobesupervisedonlicencebytheYOSonhisrelease.
TherewereconcernsaboutthehighriskofharmtoJononhisreleasefromcustodyasaresultofhishistoricalandcurrentganginvolvement.
IntelligencefrompoliceandtheSeriousYouthViolenceteamsuggestedthattherewouldbeaseriousrisktoJon'slifeifheweretoreturntohishomeboroughanddirectthreatshadbeenmadetoJonandhisfamily.
AsJonhadturned18shortlybeforehisrelease,securingstatutoryassistancewithfindingaccommodationwascomplicated.
SafeareaswereidentifiedandanassessmentofJon'sneedswascompleted.
Followingdiscussionswithvariouslocalauthorities,areciprocalagreementwasputinplacebetweenJon'shomeboroughandaNorthLondonborough,farenoughawayfromJon'shometokeephimsafe.
Jonwasreleased,placedintemporaryaccommodation,andoncedetailswerefinalisedJonmovedintoasupportiveaccommodationpathway.
BESTPRACTICEDATEPALMPROJECTJON'SSTORY60Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond2TheroleoffamiliesinsupportinggangexitAsseveralotherstudieshavefound,youngpeopletendedtoleaveordistancethemselveswhentheyfoundapartnerorbecameaparent(Fitzgibbonetal,2013).
Whiletheyoungrespondentssaidthattheyhadreachedthedecisiontoquitontheirown,theyalsosaidthatfamilymembers,particularlytheirmothersandtheirsisters,helpedthemtodothis.
Parentssometimestriedmovinghouse,orsendingtheirchildrentoanotherarea,topreventtheirchildren'sinvolvementinlocalgangs.
Someapproachedthepoliceorchildren'sservicesforhelp,withmixedresults.
Thosewhosucceededtendedtorelocatetoanotherareaandusevoluntaryorstatutorywelfare,andeducationalandvocationalprovision.
Conversely,therearetimeswhenfamiliesdonotsupportayoungperson'sattemptstoleavethearea,asthestatementbelowfromayoungman,prosecutedthroughjointenterpriseproceedingsasaresultofagang-associatedstabbing,illustrates.
YeahlikeIhavesaidtomymum'OhIamplanningonleaving[homecity]andthat'andsheislike.
'Yeah.
Yeah.
Dowhatyouhavetodo'innit.
Butthenontheotherhandsheislike'Wellyouwillgetitchyfeetandyouwilljustcomebackthesame.
Yeah,youwillcomeback.
Youcan'tstayupthere'.
Basicallysheisnotsayingyeahyoudowhatyouhavetodoinnit.
Yourfamilyisalwayshere.
Itisonlydowntheroad,youknowyoucomeandvisit.
Sheisnotlikeoneofthem.
Sheislike'You'llendupcomingback',youknowlikeoneofthem,notlikereallygivemeapraise.
YouknowwhatIamsaying17-year-oldmaleincustodyTheresearcherssuggestthateffectivestrategiesmustbeattunedtolocalsituationsvis-à-visgangs.
Theybelievethatthereisastrongcaseforsupportingbeleagueredfamilieswithgang-involvedyoungpeopleaspartoftheTroubledFamiliesprogramme,evenwheretheyfailtomeetthestricteligibilitycriteria.
Theycommendearlyinterventionbeforeayoungperson'sonroad(gang)lifestyleisestablished.
Theyalsosuggestthattheirfindingslendsupporttoexistingprogrammesaimedatstrengtheningparentingskillsinfamilieswithanidentifiedriskofganginvolvement.
Itiscrucialthatservicesmeettheirstatutoryresponsibilities,especiallyforthoseyoungpeopleleavingcustodywhowerepreviouslylookedafterbythelocalauthority.
Parentsarebecomingyoungernow,andsoyouknow,theirdad'sprobably30,theyare15andso.
.
.
Sotheirdadis30hehangsaboutwithallthesegang-affiliatedpeople,andbecauseofwhohisdadis,orhisdadhasjustdonealongstretch,andbecauseofwhotheirdadisnow,theyhavegotthestripe.
That'smydad.
Sowearedealingwiththeyoungpeople,butbeforewedealwiththeyoungpeoplewehavetodealwiththefamilies,mum,dad,evengrandparents.
YOSworkerOftenorganisationshavearoleinhelpingboththegang-involvedyoungmanandthemotherofhischildcometosomedecisionsforthebestinterestsoftheirchild.
ThecasefromStMichael'sFellowshiponpage61describestheintensityandcomplexityofundertakingthisworkandtherangeofskillsrequiredbypractitionerstosecureapositiveoutcome.
61Simonis22yearsold.
Simonjoinedagangatanearlyageandwasexcludedfromhissecondaryschool,attheageof13,forseekingtorecruithisfellowpupilsintothegang.
Simonhasbeenarrested,charged,prosecutedandincarceratedforavarietyofoffencesincludingpossessionofabladedarticle,possessionofanimitationfirearm,attemptedrobbery,robberyandgrievousbodilyharm.
SimonlefttheganginAugust2012afterhesurvivedanattemptonhislife–duringwhichhewasstabbedninetimesbymembersofarivalgang.
Hewasrelocatedoutsideoftheboroughforayearandwasemployedasaconstructionapprentice.
WendyisSimon'sex-partnerandthemotherofhischild.
DuringafailedattempttoenterthemotherandbabyunittoseeWendy,withoutherconsent,Simoncausedcriminaldamageandspenttwoweeksincustody.
UponreleasehewasinformedthathehadlosthisapprenticeshipandthatWendyhadbeenunfaithful.
Thisledtonumerousincidentsofdomesticviolence,duringwhichhesubjectedWendytoarangeofviolence,aggression,vulgarityandthreateningwordsandbehaviours.
Someoftheseincidentsofdomesticviolencewerecommittedinthepresenceoftheirchild,whichtriggeredasection47ChildProtectionInvestigation.
Wendythenobtainedanon-molestationorderagainstSimon.
Simonbreachedthetermsoftheorderandawarrantwasissuedforhisarrest.
StMichael'sFellowshipgotinvolvedtohelpSimonandWendyaddresstheirissuesandremaintheirdaughter'sprimarycaregivers.
Meetings,discussions,interactionsandobservationswithSimon,Wendy,keyworkersandtheirchild'ssocialworkerresultedinplansforSimontoreceiveorundertakethefollowing:1One-to-oneguidanceandsupportfromStMichael'sFellowshipaboutbeingafather.
2Anangermanagementcourse3Adomesticviolencecourse4ContactwithhischildviaStMichael'sFellowship'sSaturdaydadscontactcentreaftersuccessfulcompletionofpoints2and3.
Thesesessionsarestructuredandsupervisedtoprotectallthepartiesconcerned.
5Aparentingcourse(withorwithoutWendy)aftersuccessfulcompletionofpoints2and36RelationshipcounsellingwithWendy7AssistancewithbecominganapprenticeagainStMichael'sFellowshiphadnumerousone-to-onemeetingsandtelephoneconversationswitheducation,healthandsocialcareandcriminaljusticeprofessionalsandliaisedwithaconstructioncompany.
StMichael'sFellowshipwillthenasktherelevantprofessionalstoallowSimontore-establishcontactwithhischildatStMichael'sFellowship'sSaturdaydadscontactcentre.
SinceStMichael'sFellowship'sbeganworkingwithSimoninlateJanuary2014,hehastakenfullresponsibilityforalloftheissuesandincidentsthathaveledhimtothispoint.
Hehasalsofullyengagedwiththeprogrammeofinterventionthathasbeendesignedtohelphimeffectpositivechange.
BESTPRACTICESTMICHAEL'SFELLOWSHIP62Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond3FinanceForyoungpeopleleavingpenalinstitutions,moneyisusuallyaproblem.
Homeless,beingreleasedoutofjail.
I'vegot53,that'sallIwasgiven.
That'sallI'vegot.
53.
Isavedup20extrafrommycanteen,Iwassupposedtobegiventhat,buttheydidn'tgiveittome,becausetheywantedmetocomebackandgetit.
SoIhad53.
Iamgoingtobuysomefood,sothat's10probablygone.
Buyapacketofcigarettesandadrink.
15gone.
Iamleftwith40somethingpoundandthattotakeme.
.
.
NowIneedtraveltotakemefromAtoB,fromBtoCandbacktoAagain,soIneedtransportforthewholeday.
SoIamgoingtobeleftwith30.
I'vegotnothinginmypocket,housingistellingmetheycan'tsortoutnothingforme.
Probationcan'tsortoutnothingforme.
WhereamIgoingThere'sno.
.
.
Ifeellikeyouaresetup,Itoldthistomyprobationofficer,Ifeelthisisasetup,forme.
NomatterhowmuchItriedtosortoutofmylifeandItrybettermylife,there'salwaysgoingtobeachancethatIamgoingbacktojail.
23-year-oldmalereleasedin2014Severalpractitionerssuggestedthattheneedforaresettlementpackcontainingbasicessentialstosurviveforthefirstfewdayswouldbeasignificantandpositivedevelopment.
Suchprovisionwouldrelievealotofthestressandforsome,thetraumaoftheactualreleaseprocess.
Forgang-involvedyoungpeople,thelackoffinancialsupportcanbeaproblemthattheyresolvebyreturningtothegangandbenefittingfromitsillicitactivities.
Moneyispower.
Everyonesaysmoneyrulestheworld,becausewewouldn'tbealive,wewouldn'thaveanyclothes.
Moneyruleseverything.
Everybodyneedsmoneyinthisworld.
Wellitisnoteventhoughwedid,we'dgetmoney,we'dgetgreedy.
ButIusedtogetgreedyandwantmore.
SoIwouldhaveabrandnewnicephone,nicewatch,whatever,butIstillwantthatextra.
Iwantthatbike.
Iwantthatupgradeofthatcarandthingslikethat.
Andthatiswhatitis,itisgreed.
Themoremoneyyouhavegotthemorepoweryouhavegot,that'showitisonthestreets.
Andeveryonewantedit.
Everyoneusetochasetheirdream,thechancetomakemoney.
22-year-oldmalewhohadservedfourcustodialsentencesMoreover,theymaybeindebtedtooldergangsters,possiblybecauseofthelossofdrugswhentheywerearrested,andthiscanonlyberesolvedquicklybyrecoursetofurthercriminality.
Youngpeople,whentheyarrivebackinthecommunitywithlittlemoneymaywellthinkthattheywerebetteroffbeforetheywenttoprisonandthisisadisincentivetogangdesistance.
I'vealsogottamakeso-and-soappointments.
I'mluckythatthesepeoplegivemebackmytravelmoney,buttomorrowIgotoajobinterview.
You'renotexpectingthepersonatajobinterviewtogiveyoubackyourmoney,butlittledoesanybodyknow,[supportworker]hadtogivemeanotherformsoIcouldgoandgettoiletrollfromafoodbank.
Peoplewouldn'tthinkalittlethingliketoiletrollwouldbebignews,butwe'relivinginpovertyandweliveinEngland.
Peopledon'tunderstandthat.
24yearoldreleasedin20114EmploymentAfterthedisclosureoftheircriminalrecordfindingsecureemploymentcanbedifficult.
TheBantheBoxcampaignledbythecharityBusinessintheCommunity(BITC)highlightsthenegativerippleeffectthereisonsocietywhenemployersaskquestionsaboutcriminalrecordsatthefirstpointoftherecruitmentprocess.
NacroandBITCadviseemployerstoasksuchquestionsatalater,moreappropriatestageintherecruitmentprocesssothatapplicantsarefirstassessedontheirskills,qualificationsandabilitytodothejob.
Thisalsogivesapplicantstheopportunitytoprovidedisclosureinformationtotheemployerinawaywhichbetterinformstheemployer'sriskassessment.
63…assoonasyouputinyou'vegotacriminalconviction,youcan'tevenfinishtheapplication…andthengoback,yourefreshit,andyou[click]…yousay,'noIhaven'tgotone',andthenitletsyoucarryon…youcan'tevengetpastthatoneinitialstage…sometimesit'sabithard.
Youfeellikeit'shardtoprogress.
Youngwomanreleasedinsummer2014Theimportanceofhavingplansinplacepriortoreleasewasmadebybothprofessionalsandyoungpeopletowhomwespoke.
Planningforacareerandmappingthepathwayorstepsrequiredtoachieveitshouldbeginincustody,withthenecessaryeducationalopportunitiesbeingtailoredtowardstheyoungperson'sendgoal.
Ensuringastructuretotheirday,byattendingworkortrainingwassomethingyoungpeoplerecognisedashelpfulindistractingthemfromthetemptationofreturningtopreviouscriminalactivity.
Tobehonesttheonlyreasonyoujoinagangisgoingtobeforprotectionandmoney.
Earnmoney.
Theyaregoingtowantmoney,everyonewantsmoney.
Youhavegottohelp,gothroughprogrammesandtrytogetthemajoboranapprenticeship,itdependshowoldtheyare.
Atraineeship,anything,justtrytogetthemonapathwheretheycaneventuallybeearningmoney,andjustgetajob,andthentrybuildingtheirlifefromthere.
Becauseonceyouhavegotagang-affiliatedperson,aplacetoliveandhopefullyaworkplacethenIthinkthatwouldbereallythekeyforthatperson.
Becausethat'stheonlyreasonIaminagang.
Forprotectionandmoney.
17yearoldincustody,dueforreleaseinMarch2015CreatingPositiveFuturesislocatedwithinNewHorizonYouthCentreinCamden,NorthLondon.
Theserviceprovidesdrop-inservices,includingaccommodationadviceandreferrals,accreditededucationandtrainingprogrammes,counsellingandmusicproductionworkshops.
Staffworkwithyoungpeopleonaone-to-onebasisandthroughgroupworksessions.
Eddieworkedwiththeeducation,employmentandtrainingteamtowriteaCVandundertaketraining.
HewasfoundanapprenticeshipafterexpressinganinterestinconstructionandgaininghisCSCS.
However,hedecidedrelativelyearlyintheapprenticeshipthatthiswasnotthepathhewantedtopursueandquitaftertwomonths.
Anewapprenticeshipwasthensecuredinbusinessskills.
Eddiewasprovidedwithintensivesupportduringthisperiodtohelphimdealwithhousingbenefits,JSA,budgeting,independentliving,cookingandsettlingintoanewarea.
AppointmentswerecarriedoutinthecommunitytoensureEddieknewhiswayaround.
Eddieisnowinhissecondtermatuniversitystudyingforabusinessdegree.
Heisworkingparttimetohelpfundhisstudies.
ThesupportfromCreatingPositiveFuturesstartedwhenEddiewasincustodyandcontinuedafterhisstatutorysupportandlicenceperiodfinished.
Eddieworkedwiththesamekeyworkerthroughoutthistimeandbuiltstrongrelationshipswiththeotherstaffthere.
EddiehaspassedhisdrivingtestandiscontinuingtobuildhislifeinthesameNorthLondonborough,wherehewasrelocateduponrelease,notbecausehehasto,butbecausehewantsto.
BESTPRACTICECREATINGPOSITIVEFUTURES64Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond5LicenceconditionsBothyoungpeopleandtheprofessionalsprovidingresettlementserviceswereclearthatthesuccessoftheresettlementprocesswaspredicatedontheeffectivenessofthemulti-agencypartnershipresponsibleforsupervisingtheirlicenceconditionsuponrelease.
TheHomeOfficeMAPPAprovideanationalframeworkforassessingandmanagingtheriskposedbyseriousandviolentoffenders.
Police,prisonandprobationareresponsiblefortheassessmentandmanagementofrisksposedbyrelevantsexualandviolentoffenders.
Someorganisationswhichoperateamulti-agencygangs-desistanceprogrammeareabletoensureasuitablelevelofcoordination.
Forexample,theIntegratedGangManagementUnit(IGMU)inManchesterhasitsownspecialistgangsMAPPAandmeetsonceamonthspecificallytotalkaboutthereleaseofknown'gangnominals'.
Manylocalauthoritieswillhavetheirownriskassessmentandmanagementprocedures.
However,theresearchteamheardmixedaccountsofhowwellthesearrangementswereworking,asthisrespondentindicates:ThedayIcomeout,Iwenttoprobationin[borough].
AfterIfinishedprobationIwenttohousingtotry.
Theytoldmegotothehousingassociation,becausetheycan'tgivemeaccommodationfromthecouncil,Ididn'thaveanywheretosleepin.
Iwenttothehousingassociation,assoonasIgottothehousingdoorIseethepersonwhowasmypartner,whousedtobe.
Hislittlebrotherjustgotrushed,hegotbeatenup,heisbleedingandthat.
Hesaid'Igotbeatenupbypeople.
There'sawargoingon'.
Iamthinking,'Ididn'twanttomeetyouoryourbrother,anyofthosepeopleinthatarea.
AndpeoplearegoingtoknowthatIamout'.
Imightbeinvolvedautomaticallyintothisthing,nowIhavetolook,watchatmyback.
20yearoldreleasedin2012Youngpeopleinterviewedforthepurposesofthisreportsaiditoftenproveddifficulttocomplywithlicenceconditions,especiallythosewhichincludeAntisocialBehaviourOrders(ASBOs)orprohibitthemfromenteringparticularareasorassociatingwithparticularpeople.
ThiswasechoedintherecentYoungReview(2014)whichheardfromprisonerswhofeltthatlivinganormallifebackintheircommunitiescouldputthematriskofbreachingtheirlicenceconditions.
Professionalsgaveexamplesofentirefamiliesbeingevictedfromtheirhomesbylocalauthoritiesbecausetheirsonhadbreachedhislicence.
Onerespondentdescribedthisas'ethniccleansing'.
Ontheotherhand,withsufficientresourcesandawell-integratedmulti-agencypartnership,positiveoutcomescanbeachievedfortheyoungperson,thevictim/sandthewidercommunity,aswasthecasewithJoewhoseIGMUinterventionisoutlinedopposite.
Joe,23,wasservinga116-monthstandarddeterminatesentenceforassaultswithintenttorob.
Hewasassessedaspresentingahighriskofseriousharmtothepublicandrivalgangmembers.
WhilststrenuouslydisputedbyJoeandothersclosetohim,hewasidentifiedassomeoneassociatedwithurbanstreetgangs(USG).
Thisviewwassharedbykeyagenciesresponsibleforhissupervision.
TheIntegratedGangManagementUnit(IGMU)beganworkingonJoe'scasemorethan12monthsbeforehisrelease.
TheIGMUconvenedameeting.
Attendeesincludedaseniorprobationofficer,aspecialistprobationofficer,asocialworker,afamilysupportworker,aninterventionsworkerandaneducation,trainingandemployment(ETE)specialist.
Victimliaison,NeighbourhoodDIandMAPPAsupportwerealsopresent.
Thepointsbelowoutlinewhatwasdiscussed,agreedandachieved.
KeythemesdicussedJoe'sassociationwithwell-knownUSGmembersPoorfinancialandETEprospectsLackofsuitableaccommodationJoewassufferingsignificantlevelsofanxietyTraumatisedvictimwithanxietiesaboutJoe'simminentreleasefromprisonHighcommunityinterestinthecasewithriskofadversepublicityActionplanagreedPlaceJoeinanapprovedpremisesandarrangeextensivecontrolmeasuresReferJoetolocalspecialistmentalhealthproviderforUSG-involvedoffendersArrangeappointmentswiththeIGMU'sETEofficerOutcomesachievedSinceJoe'sreleaseinOctober2014:HehasnotbreachedanyconditionsofhislicenceHehascompletedtheApprovedPremisesplacementsuccessfullyThereisnonewintelligenceofUSGassociationHehasobtainedpart-timeemploymentasawaiterHehasengagedinaworkprogrammetoobtainqualificationsHehasaccessedmentalhealthsupportHehasengagedwellwithprobationinterventionsSafeaccommodationwaseventuallyprovidedoutoftheimmediatevicinitySummaryTheIGMUisawell-establishedmulti-agencyteamwithahighlevelofexpertisearoundUSGwork.
Barriersaremultiplewhenleavingcustody,andevenmoresointhecaseofUSGs.
SomeagenciescanberiskaversebuttheIGMUwill'takearisktomanagearisk'becausetheirsharedunderstandingprovidesconfidencewhilstremainingriskaware.
BESTPRACTICEINTEGRATEDGANGMANAGEMENTUNIT66Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyondDuringtheperiodofthisinvestigation,theresearchteamhasdiscoveredsomeexcellentresettlementpracticeformeetingtheneedsofgang-involvedyoungpeople.
However,thetensionsandchallengeswithinthecriminaljusticesystem,andparticularlywithinthesecureestateoftenrendertheseinitiativeslesseffectivethantheyhavethepotentialtobe.
Forexample,uncertaintyaboutfundingcandistractstafffromdeliveringtheirservicesbecausestaffturnovergetsinthewayofeffectivemulti-agencyplanning.
Recognisingthesedifficulties,researchindicatesthatorganisationsmightusefullyconsiderthefollowingframeworkasabasisforthedevelopmentofacomprehensiveganginterventionprogramme.
Thekeycomponentsofcommunitybasedgang-desistanceprogrammesInhisevaluationofthreeLondongang-desistanceinitiatives,Pitts(2011)sketchedout11keyfeaturesofanoptimalgang-desistanceprogramme:1Itwouldtargetgang-involvedchildrenandyoungpeopleutilisinga'TrafficLight'RiskAssessmentInstrumenttoestablishthedepth,natureandrisksposedbyandtotheyoungperson.
Thiswouldenabletheprogrammeproviderstodeveloparangeofinterventionsoftherighttype,intensityandduration.
Tosucceed,however,alltherelevantagencies,schools,andlocalresidentswouldneedtobeinvolved,becausesome'seriousplayers'maybeunknowntostatutoryagencies.
2ItwouldhaveanOutreachFunction,usuallypursuedbystreet-basedyouthworkersskilledinmakingandsustainingcontactwith'hard-to-reach'groups(Crimmensetal,2004),todrawthemintotheprogramme.
3ItwouldhaveanintensiveGroupworkProgrammewhichfocuseduponthedevelopmentofalternativeroutesoutofganginvolvementand'leadership'training.
Theeffectsoftheseprogrammeswouldbemaximisediftheyhadoneormoreresidentialelementswhichtookparticipantstoanunfamiliarsettingwheretheywererequiredtoengageinunfamiliargroupactivities.
4ItwouldhaveaCaseworkFunctioninwhichcriminaljustice,youthworkand/orsocialwelfareprofessionalsworkedwiththeyoungpersonandtheirfamilytosupportinvolvementinthegroupworkprogramme,addressfamilyproblemsand(re-)establishlinkswithschool,training,employmentand/orrelevantsocialwelfareagencies.
5ItwouldestablishaPresenceandaBaseinaGang-affectedNeighbourhoodandallowcontinuingcontactwithgang-involvedyoungpeoplebeyondthelifeofaparticularintervention.
6ItwouldprovidecontinuingpracticalandemotionalsupportintheformofMentors,'Buddies'and/oraDrop-infunction.
7ItwouldhaveaccesstotheservicesofEducation,TrainingandEmploymentSpecialistswhowouldworkwithgang-involvedyoungpeople,tomaximisetheirskillsandknowledgeandeffectrealisticchoicesabouttheirfutures,aswellaswithlocalemployers,collegesanduniversitiestoopenupalternativelegitimatepathwaysfortheseyoungpeople.
8ItwouldhaveaccesstotheservicesofaspecialistHousingProfessionalwhocould,ifnecessary,enableyoungpeopleunderthreattomovetosuitable,andsuitablysupportedaccommodationinanotherarea.
9ItwouldhaveaMediationTeamthatwouldkeepcontactwithalllocalgangs,and'crews',enablingittointervenetodefuseinter-gangconflictandtherebyreducetit-for-tatviolence.
10Asmentionedabove,itwouldalsohaveaThroughthegateFunctioninvolvingregularvisitstogang-involvedyoungpeopleinYOIsorprisonbyprojectstaffinordertodrawthembackintotheproject/programmeontheirreturn,whichisoftenapointatwhichviolenceerupts.
CONCLUSIONANDRECOMMENDATIONS106711Aswellasprovidingtheservicesandresourcesoutlinedabove,itwouldalsohaveadedicatedGirlsandYoungWomen'sInterventionTeambecauseresearchsuggeststhatinterventionwithgang-involvedgirlsandyoungwomenshouldcontainanumberofgender-specificelements(Cousineau,2009;Miller,2009).
Theseinclude:targetedpreventionwithgirlsandyoungwomenwho,whilenotactivelyinvolvedingangcrime'hangout'withgangmembers.
Researchsuggeststhatgirlsandyoungwomenmaydothisforasmuchasayear,beforemakingacommitmenttojoin(Miller,2001)harmreduction,includingtheconstructionof'baddate'databases,supportivepoliceprotection,HIVprevention,needleexchange,STDtesting,streetoutreachandtheprovisionofemergencyshelterscrisisintervention:whichtakestheformofoutreachworkandspansmentalhealthandsuicidepreventionservices(Chatterjee,2006).
Recommendations1Resettlementworkwithgangsshouldbuildupontheprinciplesofeffectiveresettlementwithyoungpeopledevelopedwithinandaroundthecriminaljusticesystem.
2Whereanimprisonedyoungpersonisganginvolved,provisionintheformoffundingforadditionalstaffshouldbemadeavailablesothatworkerswhoknowthemcankeepincontactwiththemandtheirfamilieswhilstincustodyandliaisewiththerelevantagenciesandservicesinordertodevelopandimplementarealisticresettlementplan.
3Fundingshouldbemadeavailabletosupporttheyoungpersonfromdayoneoftheirsentenceandwherenecessary,beyondtheendofthelicenceperiod.
Thiswillbeparticularlyimportantforgang-involvedyoungpeoplewhoarerelocated.
ROTLshouldbeusedtoallowtheyoungpersontofamiliarisethemselveswiththeirnewsurroundingsandserviceproviders.
4Agenciesendeavouringtoestablishcontactwithimprisonedgang-involvedyoungpeopleshouldpersonalisetheintervention;sendinganyliteraturewithahandwrittenletterandenclosingaself-addressedenvelopetoencouragetheyoungpersontowriteback.
Thesenderofthelettershouldvisittheyoungpersoninsideatleastoncebeforereleaseandbecomethe'goto'resettlementworkerliaisingwiththerelevantagenciesandservicesinordertodevelopandimplementarealisticresettlementplan.
5Workersfromgang-desistanceprogrammescouldalsodeliverGoodLives(Ward,2015)programmesincustodyandoutside,thataddressviolenceandthetraumaexperiencedbymanygang-involvedyoungpeopleand/orprogrammesdesignedtoempoweryoungpeopletotakecontroloftheirownlivesandexerciseagency.
Suchprogrammesshouldfocusnotonlyontheindividualwithinthegangbutalsoonthegangwithinitssocialfield.
6Alltooofteneducationalprovisioninprisonestablishmentsisofferedona'onesizefitsall'basiswhichsuitsnobody,yettheresearchindicatesthatrelevanteducationalprogrammescanfacilitatepositiveresettlement.
Itwouldfollowthateducationalandvocationalprovisioninprisonshouldbebasedupontheyoungpeople'slevelofattainment,learningneedsandaspirations.
Thiswouldmeanteachingyoungpeopleinsmallergroupsbut,inviewofthefactthat'onesizefitsall'provisiontendstofosterdisruptionandviolence,thiswouldbeasoundinvestment.
7Asamatterofurgency,thoseresponsibleforthesecureestateneedtofindwaysofreducingthehighlevelsofviolencewhichisevidentintheinstitutionswhichaccommodategang-involvedyoungpeople.
Researchontheimpactofthedifferentplacementstrategiesisurgentlyneeded.
Theuseofconfinementwhichmitigatesagainstattendanceateducationorgang-desistanceprogrammesshouldbediscouraged.
Additionally,appropriatementalhealthscreeningandsupportneedtobeavailable.
68Gang-involvedyoungpeople:custodyandbeyond8Decisionsaboutrelocationneedtobemadeearliersothatserviceswhicharetoprovideaccommodation,education,trainingetc.
canbeidentifiedandtheyoungpersoncanuseROTLtobegintheresettlementprocess.
Agenciesshouldensurethenecessarysupportintheformofakeyworkerwhocanofferadrop-inserviceandintroductionstokeyprofessionals,volunteersorpeermentorsinrelevantrecreational,educationalandvocationalservices.
Thesupportshouldbeavailableoutofhoursandpayparticularattentiontosignificantdates/timeswhichmaycreatedifficultiesorisolationfortheyoungperson.
9Recognisingthatmanygang-involvedyoungpeoplelackacademicqualificationsandsomestrugglewithliteracyandnumeracy,linkingthemintorelevantandsupportiveeducational,trainingoremploymentfacilitiesonrelease,which'startwheretheyare'andbuilduponwhathasalreadybeenundertakenincustody,willbeimportant.
Thiswillalsobetrueforthosewithqualificationswhocould,withsupport,enterfurtherandhighereducation.
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pdf)ThisreviewhasbeenproducedbytheBeyondYouthCustodypartnership,consistingofNacro,ARCS(UK)Ltd,TheCentreforSocialResearchattheUniversityofSalford,andtheVauxhallCentrefortheStudyofCrimeattheUniversityofBedfordshire.
Authors:DrTimBatemanandProfessorNealHazelBeyondYouthCustody2015Website:www.
beyondyouthcustody.
netEmail:beyondyouthcustody@nacro.
org.
ukTwitter:@BYCustodyThisreviewhasbeenproducedbytheBeyondYouthCustodypartnership,consistingofNacro,ARCS(UK)Ltd,TheCentreforSocialResearchattheUniversityofSalford,andtheVauxhallCentrefortheStudyofCrimeattheUniversityofBedfordshire.
Authors:FionaFactorandProfessorJohnPittswithDrTimBatemanBeyondYouthCustody2015Website:www.
beyondyouthcustody.
netEmail:beyondyouthcustody@nacro.
org.
ukTwitter:@BYCustody