Gang Violence is a Problem in South Los Angeles Gang Violence in South Los Angeles

Gangs are a major problem in South Los Angeles because of the violence they commit on youth and members of the broader communities. When I

was eight years old, I witnessed a gang-related homicide in front of my house. My cousin was shot eight times along with two young girls and a young

man. One girl died as a result. During another gruesome occasion that took place in a liquor store parking lot around the corner from my house, I

watched a friend struggle to survive a gun-shot wound to his throat. He ultimately lost the battle for his life as he waited for the paramedics to arrive.

On two other occasions which took place within a short span of time, I witnessed a childhood friend dead on the pavement from gunshots to his face.

Next, I witnessed a friend’s eye’s roll back on the hospital bed after being shot fourteen times in his chest. His brother who attended his funeral in a

wheelchair because of gunshots, was gunned down and killed shortly after . By the time I was twenty years old I had been to several funerals and

heard about countless deaths that took place within blocks of my house. These string of gang-related violent experiences impacted my life as well as

many other community members who lived in south Los Angeles.

Over a seventeen year time frame roughly 4,500 gang-related violent deaths occurred in Los Angeles. Readers should interpret the numbers as real-

life tragic experiences that add up for the individuals who experience them over and over again. As a year passes, an individual typically does not

forget : the violent death of a close friend or family member, an eye witness encounter of a violent shooting, or an instance when a bullet zips pass

his/her head

.

Life Loss Cost National Average Los Angeles Cost

Medical $6,265 $1,447,215

Work Loss

Cost $1,097,354 $253,488,774

Combined

Cost $1,103,619 $269,283,036

Los Angeles Life Loss Cost

In the year 2005, 244 Gang related homicides resulted in life lost cost of

$269,283,036 in Los Angeles 2005 dollars).

0

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Feb

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Gang Crimes in Los Angeles by Type in 2005

Shots Inhabited Dwell

Robbery

Attacks on Police

Officers

Felony Assault

Attempt Homicide

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Los Angeles Gang Crimes by Area in 2005

Central

South

Valley

West

During the last three years, there were over 16,398 verified violent gang crimes in

the City of Los Angeles. These include 491 homicides, nearly 7,047 felony

assaults, approximately 5,518 robberies and just under 98 rapes. In 2005, Los

Angeles experienced 6,409 gang-related crimes . Felony assaults represented

largest type of violence.

Gang Violence is Concentrated in Certain Areas

The bulk of the problem lies within the borders of pocketed areas within Los

Angeles. Central and South Los Angeles areas experienced 73% of all 6,409

gang-related crimes in 2005.

77th Street Area

LAPD reports data by bureau. The bureau areas in which they patrol are Central,

South, Valley, and West. Gang members commit homicide more frequently in

concentrated areas within these bureaus. For example the 77th street area has a

population of approximately 175,000 people and covers approximately 11.9

square miles.

There have been thirty two homicides between January 2012 to June 2012.

There were four homicides last month (June), in May there were eight, and. This

is an increase in gang-related violence from last year during this time.

How did Gangs Start

o Protection from other groups

o Economic development

Why people Join Gangs

o Brotherhood

o Lack of guidance

o Because a friend did it

o Protection

o Economic Gain

o Family in a gang

o Retaliation

What are the Demographics of Gangs in LA

o Generally low income

o Latino

o African-American

o Young men

What are People Doing to Stop Gang Violence

o Prevention - change the underlying conditions in the community

o Intervention - efforts are directed at persuading and

empowering current gang members to leave gang life.

o Suppression - efforts use legal and social control mechanisms

to disrupt and reduce gang activity and crime and get gang

members off the streets

o Reentry – Target serious offenders returning to community

after confinement

o Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

o Homeboy Industries

o Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBTIS)

o Watts Gang Task Force

What are recommendations

o Economic Development plans

o Comprehensive Approaches

o Healing Approaches

o Community Mobilization.

5%

26%

23%

2% All other

7%

37%

California Homicide Crimes in 2007 (Total 2,258)

Robbery Buglary

Argument

Gang-drug related

Child Abuse

all other

Unknown

Source: California Department of Justice, 2007

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mortality Data,

2005. (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsWISQARScost/).

Analysis: Aubrey Relf

Source: Los Angeles Police Department (www.lapdonline.org)

Source: Los Angeles Police Department (www.lapdonline.org)

Source: Los Angeles Police Department (www.lapdonline.org)

Gang Violence: Magnitude of the Problem

Gang Violence by Location

Gang Violence by Type of Crime Questions

346 370

408

295

207

173

136

331 346 350

259

291

244

272

220

167

74

4,489

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1993

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Gang Related Homicide in Los Angeles Between 1993 - 2009

Gang Homicide Cumulative Homicides