HSP 345 Case Management & InterventionPresentation by Tiffany Go & Jenn Hagedorn

For more information:http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx

Gang activity:◦According to the Revised Code of

Washington (RCW) 28A.600.455: "Gang" means a group which: (a)

Consists of three or more persons; (b) has identifiable leadership; and (c) on an ongoing basis, regularly conspires and acts in concert mainly for criminal purposes.

“Violent Offense”◦ According to the RCW 9.94A.030.

◦ "Violent offense" means:(a) Any of the following felonies:

(i) Any felony defined under any law as a class A felony or an attempt to commit a class A felony;

(ii) Criminal solicitation of or criminal conspiracy to commit a class A felony;

(iii) Manslaughter in the first degree;(iv) Manslaughter in the second degree;

(v) Indecent liberties if committed by forcible compulsion;(vi) Kidnapping in the second degree;

(vii) Arson in the second degree;(viii) Assault in the second degree;

(ix) Assault of a child in the second degree;(x) Extortion in the first degree;

(xi) Robbery in the second degree;(xii) Drive-by shooting;

Population served:◦ About 1,000 youth are committed annually to

Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration by county juvenile courts in Washington. JRA youth are very much at the deep end of delinquent behavior. These youngsters are typically serious and violent offenders or youth with extensive offense histories who have not responded to local sanctions and interventions. (Juvenile Rehabilitation of Washington State DSHS, 2007)

Old style gangs Modern gangs Bellingham gangs/Whatcom Co. gangs

◦ VS. Los Angeles Gangs

Gang members in Whatcom Co.◦ Do you personally know a gang member here?◦ Do you see gang related activity/violence taking place?

More common to spot in LA or larger city:◦ Graffiti◦ Dress

Siblings Family Friends

Gang thus becomes the FAMILY.◦ Protection◦ Nurturing◦ Positive reinforcement

Respect=Fear◦ The most feared are the most “respected”

Our definition of respect/fear is very different than a gang member’s definition.◦ Respect needs to be earned.◦ Hate

Wannabe gang members◦ More dangerous than gang members◦ Something to prove◦ Risk takers

Service needs provided by JRA:◦ Youth come to JRA with complex disorders that

are at the root of their criminal behavior and require dynamic treatment services. JRA tracks the percentage of youth who require services.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Cognitive Behavior Therapy Anger Replacement Training

Prevention:◦ GREAT and DARE programs◦ Nonprofit Organizations

Researchers organize the risk factors for serious and violent delinquency according to five developmental domains: individual, family, school, peer group, and community.  (Howell, James & Egley, Arlen, 2005, p. 336)

Intervention:◦ One kid at a time◦ Multidimensional approach: use of school officials,

parents, law enforcement and other influential people in the child’s life

Specific types of interventions may utilize Anger Management Trainings or Conflict Resolution Trainings

Suppression:◦ Law enforcement◦ Target Leadership for prosecution ◦ Intervene with younger members

When law enforcement become aware of gang related and/or violent activity taking place

When school officials/staff become aware of gang related and/or violent activity taking place

RCW 28A.600.455 states:◦ Findings -- Intent -- 1997 c 266: "The legislature finds

that the children of this state have the right to an effective public education and that both students and educators have the need to be safe and secure in the classroom if learning is to occur. The legislature also finds, however, that children in many of our public schools are forced to focus on the threat and message of violence contained in many aspects of our society and reflected through and in gang violence activities on school campuses.

RCW Codes◦ Gangs clearly outlined in RCW’s.◦ Geographical location:

Whatcom County vs. King County gang related activity.

Policies within schools & rehabilitation facilities

Graffiti◦ It is against the law to have graffiti on one’s own

property in the state of Washington and therefore must be removed.

Behind 7-11 on Yew Street, Bellingham, WA 03/06/2010

Graffiti:◦ Is practiced on scrap paper

and perfected.◦ Images are then recreated

on large surfaces throughout the community.

Graffiti is an expression of a gang, to claim property or use as a threat.◦ Can see “X”’s by the

enemy’s color to “disrespect” that gang.

Dress/Colors:◦ Certain fashions carry

identity, like bandanas over heads, certain types of colors, and clothing.

Colors are a symbol of your gang/community. Gangs do not wear the opposing color.◦ Same colors unify the gang,

so wearing red or blue unifies you as a “crew”.

Local◦ Bellingham Police Dept.◦ Department of Corrections◦ Juvenile Justice Center (Lack of funding)◦ Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (Referred

Program) Statewide

◦ DSHS Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration◦ Others

Bloods:◦Gang founded in Los Angeles, CA.◦Red color, particular gang symbols & hand

signs.◦Created initially against the Crips

(Protection).◦Mostly (not exclusively) African American.◦Dates back to 1970’s.

Crips◦ Primarily (not exclusively) African American.◦ Founded in Los Angeles, CA in 1969.◦ Largest and most violent gang in the Untied

States.◦ Est. 30,000-35,000 nationwide.◦ Gang known for robberies, murder, drug

trafficking, and other crimes.◦ Bitter rivalry with Blood gang and lesser gangs in

Chicago.◦ Documented Crips members in U.S. Military

bases.

Federal Funds:◦ Predominantly given through grants◦ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency

Prevention (http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/funding/funding.html) Formula and Block Grants: Discretionary Grants:

◦ Bureau of Justice Assistance (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/funding/index.html)

Implications for budget cuts◦ Cut extraneous branches

Seattle’s Gang Unit◦ “King County Sees Sharp Increase in Juveniles

Committing Violent Adult Crimes” Officers in Bellingham School District

Increase of prevention at an early age (elementary school education) necessary.◦ Increasing Police Officers presence at schools◦ Funding for DARE & GREAT

Increase of transitional support from rehabilitation facility to community.◦ Non-profit organization◦ Local support from existing organization

Volunteers◦ For youth programs, Police Dept, etc.

Mr. Bob Boneham◦ Maple Lane Juvenile Rehabilitation Center◦ Juvenile Rehabilitation Supervisor

Duties include overseeing 64-bed cottage Direct Service

◦ Males ages 15-21 years old convicted of felonies◦ 80% Mental Issues◦ Educational level 3rd/4th grades

Gangs: undercurrent issue

Sgt. Claudia Murphy, Bellingham Police Department◦ Special Investigation Unit◦ Gang-related activity & drugs◦ 1996-1999 Gang Resistance Team

Gang Resistance education & training◦ Speaker throughout Whatcom Middle & High Schools◦ BPD intervened for early prevention, no official program.

Neighborhood Anti-Crime Team◦ No “one” dangerous neighborhood (Texas St. frequent)◦ Neighborhood meetings

Graffiti, property damage, gang suspicious activity 2 police Officers involved with this

Similarities & Differences in Risk Factors for Violent Offending and Gang Membership.◦ Parker, Robert Nash; Luther, Kate; Murphy, Lisa.

Contemporary Drug Problems, Winter2007, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p611-633, 23p; (AN 34697014)

Facilitating Violence: A Comparison of Gang-Motivated, Gang-Affiliated, and Nongang Youth Homicides◦ Rosenfeld, Richard; Bray, Timothy M.; Egley, Arlen.

Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Dec1999, Vol. 15 Issue 4, p495, 22p; (AN 11303479)