Thirteen Ways Any ADULT Can Make An Impact on Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence His or Her Business.<br /><br /><ol><li>Cultivate a respectful attitude toward women in your family and at your workplace. Avoid behaviors that demean or control women. </li><li>When you are angry with your partner or children, respond with out hurting or humiliating them. Model a non-violent, respectful response to resolving conflicts in your family. Call a domestic violence or child abuse prevention program for their help if you continue to hurt members of your family.</li><li>If you have a friend or co-worker who is afraid of her partner or who is being hurt, offer her your support and refer to the 24-hour, toll-free, National Domestic violence Hotline number at 1-800-799- SAFE (7233).</li><li>Learn about domestic violence services in your community. Contribute your time (volunteer!) resources, or money. Call 1-800-END-ABUSE to find out more.</li><li>Call the police if you see or hear violence in progress.</li><li>Talk to your friends and neighbors when they belittle women, make a joke about violence, or ignore a battered woman.</li><li>Ask you local government to collaborate with domestic violence programs to conduct a safety audit of your community.</li><li>Write to music producers, movie companies, Internet businesses, video game producers, and TV stations to speak out about violence against women.</li><li>Develop a women’s safety campaign in your workplace, neighborhood, school or house of worship. Build a consensus among your colleagues and neighbors that abusive behavior and language is unacceptable.</li><li>Bring together your local domestic violence program staff, parents, teachers, students, and school administrators to start a discussion about developing a schoolbased curriculum on dating and family violence.</li><li>Ask that physicians and other health care professionals receive training about domestic violence and follow the diagnostic and treatment guidelines about domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse developed by the American Medical Association. </li><li>Co-sponsor a citizens’ monitoring group with your local domestic violence program to insure that law enforcement officers, judges, and probation & parole personnel receive training about domestic violence and enforce the law.</li><li>EXAMINE YOUR OWN LIFE for violence</li></ol>

Thirteen Ways Any ADULT Can Make An Impact on Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence His or Her Business. Cultivate a respectful attitude toward women in your family and at your workplace. Avoid behaviors th...

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Ten Ways a Middle Schooler Can End Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence His or Her Business.<br /><br /><ol><li> Respect girls and women in your school and in your family. Don’t make fun of or try to control girls.</li><li>When you are angry with your friend, sister, brother, or parent, don ‘t try to hurt or humiliate them. Try to act in a non-violent, respectful why when solving conflicts in your friendships and family.</li><li>Ask and learn about domestic violence. Give a presentation in school.</li><li>Call the police if you see or hear violence in progress. </li><li>Talk to your friends and classmate when they belittle girls, make jokes about violence, or ignore violence against girls and women. </li><li>Ask your teachers or principal to work with domestic violence programs to help make your school and surrounding community safe for girls and boys.</li><li>Write to music producers, movie companies, Internet businesses, video game producers, and TV stations to let them know that picturing violence against girls and women is not OK. </li><li>Make a contract with your classmates that abusive behavior and language is not OK and will not be tolerated in your school. </li><li>Form a group of friends and classmates who will work with domestic violence program staff, parents, teachers and school administrators to start a discussion about developing a school program or unit on dating and family violence. </li><li>Examine your life for violence and hurtful behaviors. Try to live a VIOLENCE-FREE life.</li></ol>

Ten Ways a Middle Schooler Can End Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence His or Her Business.  Respect girls and women in your school and in your family. Don’t make fun of or try to control girls...

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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs04iAZGnE2YbT7UxrP_5X6evn8kTv56YFv7OwpikTb7XX1TEEjAPR_oivDEQYr6s6s__qAK5IkSpmTQpg3XWtxKENmmNqGkQOKfLtP1FjJ7JVStBjZsC1TdKDqecnskC-69SEsyM4o_ye/s1600/dmv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs04iAZGnE2YbT7UxrP_5X6evn8kTv56YFv7OwpikTb7XX1TEEjAPR_oivDEQYr6s6s__qAK5IkSpmTQpg3XWtxKENmmNqGkQOKfLtP1FjJ7JVStBjZsC1TdKDqecnskC-69SEsyM4o_ye/s1600/dmv.jpg" /></a>Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the "Day of Unity" in October 1981 conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national levels.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The activities conducted were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes: mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989 the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.<br /><br /><br /><br />

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the "Day of Unity" in October 1981 conceived by the National Coalition Again...

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Mobs of London!

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Watching the chaos and destruction that is gripping Britain shows just how fragile the world has become in this era of economic certainty. If this can happen in London and it's suburbs, could it happen here in the United States. One can only wonder, could it?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KlvRrkcCsvnccU08mhwIfNtGFU58xWRHA5pPdfi9h6-oDYbyZM0cIpqhL0dHDMNtk5fRMcozh9HxfEXR2Gkzf5C3tkSC4PFf3wgxmaB98cOtaKVq5xP92uFgHzEcHLNBmvEYpVSk272P/s1600/london+riots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KlvRrkcCsvnccU08mhwIfNtGFU58xWRHA5pPdfi9h6-oDYbyZM0cIpqhL0dHDMNtk5fRMcozh9HxfEXR2Gkzf5C3tkSC4PFf3wgxmaB98cOtaKVq5xP92uFgHzEcHLNBmvEYpVSk272P/s200/london+riots.jpg" width="200" /></a>Since August 6, the Riots have acted like a virus, erupting from one area of the city to another, moving to other areas that have never seen such violence. One reporter on the ABC news called it the "worst rioting in a generation." The rioters using social media sites such as Twitter and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023924/London-riots-2011-BlackBerry-Messenger-shut-unbelievable.html?ito=feeds-newsxml">Blackberry Messenger</a>, have planned which areas they were going to target and what acts they were going to do. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagzVJvD-2wW8F5HD7yQHmUozJAcVoLDis47gg5qfEXgymHiJKsNXbv7uelAbg1_-_2DXvhYgUtfQkdpiJHBwnGHS_Vms2xiGmCe3_u1Vntww2X2LR8aDY4NFYIHHgSj0H6rjNMSfyONGP/s1600/london+riots6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagzVJvD-2wW8F5HD7yQHmUozJAcVoLDis47gg5qfEXgymHiJKsNXbv7uelAbg1_-_2DXvhYgUtfQkdpiJHBwnGHS_Vms2xiGmCe3_u1Vntww2X2LR8aDY4NFYIHHgSj0H6rjNMSfyONGP/s200/london+riots6.jpg" width="200" /></a>A wheelchair bound "activist" named Jody McIntyre sent out a Twitter message to his 9000 followers to spread lawlessness across London. His twitter feed "Be inspired by the scenes in Tottenham, and rise up in your neighbourhood. 100 people in every area = the way we can beat the feds."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9YpsgfZOIYIneYmOoR8Oo2GnawlCjDVXxw60WMztvgewzOaBLVU5s961f7hbP6xUmR54iUc0cSgLgrlSelJQ6roucls1yAYJRqK7y7C0n-MUswlpdtNQCcE19sAGiVF0eZnCAdJmAsxJ/s1600/London-riots-Twitter-visits.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9YpsgfZOIYIneYmOoR8Oo2GnawlCjDVXxw60WMztvgewzOaBLVU5s961f7hbP6xUmR54iUc0cSgLgrlSelJQ6roucls1yAYJRqK7y7C0n-MUswlpdtNQCcE19sAGiVF0eZnCAdJmAsxJ/s200/London-riots-Twitter-visits.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You can follow the London Riots own twitter feed via Facebook by clicking on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-Riots-Live-Twitter-Feed/202820893082778">link</a>. The <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/09/london-riots-twitter/">pace </a>on Twitter revealed that over 3.4 million people visited Twitters homepage, which equals about 1 in every 170 UK Internet site visits on August 8th. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So we now know how the riots grew and spread so rapidly, something that law enforcement here in the United States need to clearly understand, monitor and adapt to before this type of crime spree hits here. What were the causes that brought the level of crime to such epic proportions. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>The Precipice</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On August 5, Mark Duggan, 29, was shot and killed during a early evening police stop, "by Officer's from Operation Trident, a Metropolitan Police unit that deals with gun crime in London's black communities, with officers from the Special Firearms Command (CO19)" according to Sandra Laville, corespondent with the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/05/man-shot-police-london-arrest">Guardian</a> Newspaper. The reporter goes on to say that the Independent Police Complaints Commission has taken over the investigation and attempting to clarify the facts and quickly allay fears. However, according to the report, Duggan was a "local boy who was loved by the community."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>So what factors contributed to the riots?</em></strong> Shootings by police officers in Britain are rare, even more rare a fatal shootings. According to the <a href="http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb1011/hosb1011snr?view=Binary">Home Office</a>, there has been an increase in increase in fatal shootings at 55 (non-police involved) in 2010/11, compared to 40 in the previous year. Serious injuries were down from 337 to 298 and slight injuries up from 1,537 to 1,593.  Although these numbers are not showing increases which are statistically extreme there are some increase. So crime does not appear to be a contributing factor to violence either going up or down, so what other factors could be contributors.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Law Enforcement Response</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFN8Z947NFYG8rflPymvq0fVrjIZJVrykivM-ILxTzuGRM1HFLHxveJYsD-w4rwuVWv7Vz17Oz423Fcv-qTjrCzvzg5Kwc1rSAl6-e52dlTAS3R_vDpTHJh00urbUZt8VUP7WrXb0ivxOP/s1600/imagesCABL9EZP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFN8Z947NFYG8rflPymvq0fVrjIZJVrykivM-ILxTzuGRM1HFLHxveJYsD-w4rwuVWv7Vz17Oz423Fcv-qTjrCzvzg5Kwc1rSAl6-e52dlTAS3R_vDpTHJh00urbUZt8VUP7WrXb0ivxOP/s200/imagesCABL9EZP.jpg" width="200" /></a>Post 9/11, the British Police have changed their policy involving firearms and "shoot to kill". The British police have modeled their "stop the threat" training after the Israeli and Sri Lanka Law Enforcement authorities who have dealt with numerous "suicide bombers."  Post 9/11 British Officers have concerned over terrorism and the risk of suicide bombers have engaged this policy to minimize the risk of mass death incidents. Still the vast majority of British Law Enforcement Officers do not carry firearms.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Racial profiling in the urban communities in Britain is considered very prevalent. The young black people feel that they are being stopped more often, combined with "continuing deprivation, growing unemployment, a feeling of lack of opportunity" says David Winnick, a member of Parliament.  A prevalent use of stopping black people, searching and interrogating them has resulted in some abuses and the feeling of abuse by members within the community.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Steve Hynd, a blogger from a news site Newshoggers.com reports that racism amongst British police is still rampant, even after the famous <a href="http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm42/4262/4262.htm">Mcpherson inquiry</a>. Especially amongst London Metropolitan Police and there specialized units like the TSG riot response unit.  A decade on from Macpherson, black people are still seven times more like likely to be stopped and searched than white people in England and Wales, with Asians twice as likely – figures which are a major impediment to good race relations. The Commission believes that these differences cannot be justified by detections, since only around one in six people in all racial groups are then arrested.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The disputed use of stop-and-search has arguably caused more conflict than any other modern policing tactic and first achieved national notoriety during the Eighties, when it was blamed for precipitating inner-city race riots. Black people are four times more likely to be stopped than white people, according to <a href="http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/uk-racial-profiling-encouraged">Scotland Yard’s figures</a>, which continues to give rise to charges of police racism.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Youth unemployment</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtQd4jwlb2-fxBwN8iPuHjE5XlGvnOh99qYSLqExh6ln_ihyphenhyphenR1GdoWskSJVwXjE5bFCEmVZDpXbddmHczC1DKvGZr4boF4IyBKD2fOksazj3D7ezKZW1PQyw8yXRI0gv3tqjJFeSpAWIn/s1600/londonriots3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtQd4jwlb2-fxBwN8iPuHjE5XlGvnOh99qYSLqExh6ln_ihyphenhyphenR1GdoWskSJVwXjE5bFCEmVZDpXbddmHczC1DKvGZr4boF4IyBKD2fOksazj3D7ezKZW1PQyw8yXRI0gv3tqjJFeSpAWIn/s200/londonriots3.jpg" width="200" /></a>According to the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/8328869/Youth-unemployment-hits-record.html">Telegraph</a> youth employment in London is extremely high, in February 2011, there were 75,000 people aged 18 to 24 who have not had a job for two years. This was an increase of 43 percent on a year ago. Couples with the end of the Education Maintenance Allowances, which allowed students to stay in education, increased tuition fees and the abolition of the Future Jobs Funds - which Britain's Office of Labour would have created 200,ooo jobs.  That is a death knoll for teenage opportunities!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Inequality</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdf_CcwpAZmN3urPZ-OP3JZEKrh5kz3tjIGGGZsnd0JPvGLzoSTtZRe9kI-QpWacyJfHy_WHJg03GHp7ltcT5EvKjzpiA5K8WUHUo2rO8ncpG7ptE7n_Kj5trYw5xLvWIJemMGHPtDTs_/s1600/london+riots2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdf_CcwpAZmN3urPZ-OP3JZEKrh5kz3tjIGGGZsnd0JPvGLzoSTtZRe9kI-QpWacyJfHy_WHJg03GHp7ltcT5EvKjzpiA5K8WUHUo2rO8ncpG7ptE7n_Kj5trYw5xLvWIJemMGHPtDTs_/s200/london+riots2.jpg" width="200" /></a>In an article written by Mary Riddell, in Britain's Telegraph she states "Britain is less equal, in wages, wealth and life chances, than any time since," the last major financial upheaval, in 1929.  The anger continued after bailouts came for financial institutions, big business and industry, while Britain's youth got hit with the reduction of their education benefits and the bleak job prospects. The riots all unfolded while much of British leaders were vacationing abroad in yachts and resorts.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Weak Police Response</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The mass rioting that occurred was allowed to occure because police failed to crack down quickly on behavior, similar to what happened in Los Angeles during the Rodeny King Riots, when the LAPD backed out of entire neighborhoods, thus fueling the looting and mayhem that insued. When the mob sees that police can't control a situation, it "leads to a sort of adrenalin-fueled euphoria," says ciminologist John Pitts.  The relative quiet that was brought back to Britian after 16,000 police officers calmed to ritoting and looting that occurred onthe prior four nights. A strong response met with overwhelming force can push the community to comply with societies norms. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But the underlying factors that contributed to this unrest must still be dealt with, and they did not occur overnight. A long term solution, with the involvement of all parties from the community, to government, business and law enforcement must work together to reduce the risk factors which lead to this level of mob violence or it will only get worse. </div></div>

Mobs of London!

Watching the chaos and destruction that is gripping Britain shows just how fragile the world has become in this era of economic certainty. I...

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Gateway Gazette is now out!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8TM5_8GWhO_GVEACUXbA04tsZ5PO4biO_Mk6m1kJK1PD_uKJIwZ53KrDTtgWRnXF_zNxld2K7Hm4si2hr7E6GtiToE-r87t1Tm-r2JIxhyuzjvPi_wlMgJR2CSr7gUFe-xfIyR3TQxaW/s1600/0309_teen_drug_abuse_170x170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8TM5_8GWhO_GVEACUXbA04tsZ5PO4biO_Mk6m1kJK1PD_uKJIwZ53KrDTtgWRnXF_zNxld2K7Hm4si2hr7E6GtiToE-r87t1Tm-r2JIxhyuzjvPi_wlMgJR2CSr7gUFe-xfIyR3TQxaW/s1600/0309_teen_drug_abuse_170x170.jpg" /></a>Our newest edition of our online newsletter is now available. Read the latest information on gang prevention, drug trends, youth violence and everything prevention related. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Follow the <a href="http://www.openthegate.org/pdf/newsletter/currentissue.pdf">link</a></div>

Gateway Gazette is now out!

Our newest edition of our online newsletter is now available. Read the latest information on gang prevention, drug trends, youth violence an...

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Wilding? What is driving this growing phenomenon

Wilding, is not something new to the United States, nor is it unique to the us. According to <a href="http://www.dictionary.com/">Dictionary.com</a> "<strong><em>wilding is the activity by a gang of youths of going on a protracted and violent rampage in a public place, attacking or mugging people at random." </em></strong>The media has erroneously reported these groups as "Flash Mobs" which are<strong><em> "</em></strong><span id="hotword"><strong><em><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">group</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">people</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">coordinated</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">by</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">email</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">meet</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">perform</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">some</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">predetermined</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">action</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">at</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">particular</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">place</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">and</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">time</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">and</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">then</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">disperse</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">quickly,"</span> according</em></strong> to Dictionary.com. </span><br /><br /><div></div>The differences are vast should be obvious, specifically <strong><em>"Wilding Groups"</em></strong> are committing criminal acts, where "<strong><em>Flash Mobs"</em></strong> do not. The media may have been lured into thinking they were similar, because some of the some of the Wilding groups had been posting on sites like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook </a>and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter </a>. This was done to prearrange meetings between fellow conspirators to commit their acts of violence. Much different than doing a synchronized dance or all showing up holding umbrellas and wearing derby's like "<strong><em>The Thomas Crowne Affair" with Pierce Brosnan.</em></strong><br /><br /><div></div>The act of <strong><em>"Wilding"</em></strong> is not new, in fact it dates back to the acts committed in New York's Central Park back in 1989, when a female jogger was attacked, raped and left for dead. This is the first time the word <strong>"<u>Wilding</u>"</strong> was coined. This was then followed with attacks in New York City on the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/03/nyregion/wilding-youth-and-homeless-a-blood-feud.html">homeless population</a> resulting in assaults, ball batting's and stabbings. Then in 1991 a rape and murder in which a female was stabbed 132 times occurred, described as the most brutal murder in <a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/69044291.html?dids=69044291:69044291&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+20%2C+1991&author=CHARLES+CRAIG&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Coercion+a+key+issue+for+jurors+in+wilding+case&pqatl=google">Boston History</a>. The incidents continue through the 1990's in New York. In 2000, June 11, during the Puerto Rican Day Parade a group of teens began an series of unprecedented acts of "Wilding" in which young women, were groped, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_Day_Parade">sexual abused,</a> battered and attacked. Much of this was seen through video by the television media. In 2008, in <a href="http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/011161.html">St. Louis</a> teen African American males in large groups were attacking riders at train stations.  In early, March 2010 in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/us/25mobs.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig">Philadelphia</a> the acts of "Wilding" utilized technology and social networking sites in which they would commit acts of group bullying, sprinting down the block, stop to brawl with one another, assault pedestrians or vandalize property. It took concerted effort by the Philadelphia Police Department through stepped up enforcement to reduce these acts acts of violence. These acts began to snowball through Boston, South Orange, N.J. and Brooklyn. Milwaukee had an a group of 50-60 teens disrupting a area <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/destructive-teen-mob-shuts-down-large-milwaukee-mall/">Shopping Mall</a> in January of 2011. Now it has infected Chicago. Thus flurry of attacks included 8 attacks in just one weekend and the closing of one of the most famous beach's in the Midwest, <a href="http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/garry-mccarthy-said-north-avenue-beach-closing-not-linked-to-gangs-20110602">North Avenue Beach</a>. <br /><br /><div></div><strong>So what is the cause to this growing problem?</strong><br />This growing trend may be attributed to the "herd behavior" or "crowd hysteria.". "Mob Mentality" was first studied by a pair of French social psychologists <a href="http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/tarde.htm">Gabriel Tarde</a> and <a href="http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/BonCrow.html">Gustave Le Bon</a>. The term <em><strong>"mob mentality"</strong></em> is used to refer to unique behavioral characteristic which emerge when people are in large groups.  But it goes beyond more than just crowds which have gotten out of control. When in a group people behave differently in small groups of individuals than they do in big crowds, and a variety of factors affect the behavior of the crowd. This leads towards a theory called the Convergence theory, which holds that crowd behavior is not a product of the crowd itself, but is carried into the crowd by particular individuals. What this really says that crowds amount to a convergence of like-minded individuals.  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowd_psychology">The Convergence theory</a> says that crowd behavior <em>"is not irrational, rather, people in crowds express existing beliefs and values so that mob reaction is the rational product of widespread popular feeling."</em> This theory may bolster behavior may factor into the thoughts and issue that are facing teens in urban environments today.<br /><br /><div></div><strong>What factors may be contributing to teen "Mob Mentality"?</strong><br />Teens are faced with a variety of difficulties as they move towards adulthood. Contributing to this difficult time includes factors such as safety and security. For teenagers especially teens in the inner city, survival is one of those basic psychological needs that if not nourished will become negative factor in a teens life. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a strong motivator for teens, check out our post on <a href="http://www.itstime.com/maslow.htm">Maslow and teens</a> for greater insight.<br /><br /><div></div>Survival (psychological) includes: food, water, teens may also survival as those basic things that they believe are necessary. Which would include money, which is a major contributing factor for teens, in a depressed economic environment and neighborhood. Teens may look at s<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">surviving</span></span> (psychological)<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">, which means viewing life in a very inexperienced way, seeking survival at any cost. </span>  Teens who may operating primarily at a surviving perspective live on the fringes of society, they cannot see the larger picture or understand the larger rhyme or reason to life. If the basics needed to sustain physical life, are not met they will continue to act in that surviving mode until they are met.<br /><br /><div></div>The second major issue for teens includes <strong><em>Safety and Security</em></strong>. It has been said that much of the reason why these<strong> "Mobs"</strong> are traveling into the shopping centers and downtown areas of the city is two fold. First, it is far too dangerous for them to stay in their home communities. As evidenced by the 2009 beating death of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/27/beating-death-of-derrien_n_301319.html">Darien Albert</a> outside Fenger High School. Being in their communities is unsafe, shootings, drug over doses, senseless killings are pushing teens from their communities to areas that are known for their safety. <br /><br /><div></div>Also a contributing factor to <strong><em>Safety and Security</em></strong> which may contribute to teens leaving their home communities include police presence. Increased police presence and the police perceptions, "run-ins", negative perceptions may play into the role of what they can do in their home community. Hanging out on the corner or front porch, will undoubtedly result in contact by the police. That contact in a 'teens' eyes may result in unwarranted contact, arrests, beatings, regardless of the realities of the outcome the perception of an inner city teen is molded and shaped by what they observe, encounter and are exposed to. Environment definitely plays a role in their experiences. This is not to say that behavior is excused, there is never any excuse for criminal behavior and the actions that bring someone to the commission of a crime of their own free will.<br /><br /><div></div>Lastly, economics play a role in "Mob Mentality." How it plays out is different for individuals and ethnicity's. For example, teens way of thought surrounds on comparing what they have to others. Appearance, clothing, electronics are motivating factors for teens surrounding issues of depression, perceptions of poverty, whether real or not, etc. For a teen, having the same things as their peers is an extremely motivating factor. If you do not have a "smart phone" or the new "IPhone" you not as "cool" or in the "in crowd" as your peers. <br /><br /><div></div>Consequently if you do not have an income, your family does not have discretionary funds, how do you what you want. If you do not have a means to get employment, or in most cases live within an economically depressed area such as the inner city, or "ghetto". According to the <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.nr0.htm">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> unemployment in Illinois in April 2011 was at 8.7%.  But that number is not representative of individual cities or communities. In neighborhoods in Chicago unemployment is hovering at twice or three times that state statistics. Depressed communities do not have the businesses, customers and items that these groups of people are looking for.  Do you believe that this is a contributing factor?<br /><br /><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gf-AQrxM2J-m2MjxIAoRxfKaK-j4Mlot1psPbEFZqbu0fbmDOy0ZgtRN9cTbEWTG1IbbiVa79OgJ6CVotj_KDGiagYk41egPNvP_dESGAkzUSm8Ixn9R9yxs1K5OcaoSYvBIS1uLQakr/s1600/triangle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gf-AQrxM2J-m2MjxIAoRxfKaK-j4Mlot1psPbEFZqbu0fbmDOy0ZgtRN9cTbEWTG1IbbiVa79OgJ6CVotj_KDGiagYk41egPNvP_dESGAkzUSm8Ixn9R9yxs1K5OcaoSYvBIS1uLQakr/s200/triangle.gif" t8="true" width="200" /></a><strong>So where do teens go to get what makes them feel normal like their peers?</strong> They travel to where they know there is money, downtown shopping districts, beaches, entertainment districts, anywhere people may have the items in their possession or where the stores are that you can buy them.  This should be obvious from a law enforcement perspective and understanding the crime triangle, Opportunity, Desire and Ability. Remove one of those outer issue and the crime does not occur. </div><br /><div></div>As a result, teens traveling into an area where the opportunity to rip off stores, pedestrians,. vehicles make those areas ripe for large groups using blitz type attacks to get "rewards" for their actions. <br /><br /><div></div><strong>So what can be done to prevent it.</strong><br />The approach is broad and will not likely sit well with most in these very difficult economic times. <br /><strong><u>Law Enforcement Response:</u></strong><br /><ul><li>Proactive approach  in areas where the "Mobs" might appear, this includes increased uniform personnel, use of CCTV cameras, interaction with business and community leaders in targeted areas. </li><li>Building community relationships with teens within those communities in which teens are coming out of. High crimes areas, depressed communities etc. </li><li>Involving religious leaders in the building of those relationships with teens.</li></ul><strong><u>Business:</u></strong><br /><ul><li>Promote businesses into investing into those communities that have a need for jobs, income and affordable, quality products not currently available in their home communities.</li><li>Reduce the union restrictions on business. Do not require unions in order for employees and business to keep more of the hard earned money to both increase profits and personal wealth.  This will go far in infusing income into the community.</li><li>Invest in the community by bringing business and job opportunities for the communities located in the inner city.</li></ul><strong><u>Community:</u></strong><br /><ul><li>Be involved in the activities in your community. Attend community policing activities. Get to know your neighbors. Report criminal activity. Participate in the solution by being witnesses instead of relying on the police alone to police your community.</li><li>Be roll models for your communities youth. Setting good examples, expressing your dislike for behavior and provide active self-esteem building constructive criticism to youth. </li><li>Work with Police, legislators, local business and informal community leaders to continue to build strong community relations.</li></ul>These are just some of the ideas that can be utilized to change a community. There is not a silver bullet that will fix everything and it takes a community to raise a child. Become part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Wilding? What is driving this growing phenomenon

Wilding, is not something new to the United States, nor is it unique to the us. According to Dictionary.com " wilding is the activity ...

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Tips for Parents: Preventing Your Teen from Joining a Gang.

<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Parents are the most powerful influence in preventing gang membership, drug use and other risky behaviors in their teens. By <a href="http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_more_involved.asp"><span style="color: blue;">being involved</span></a> in your teen’s life and staying alert to <a href="http://www.theantidrug.com/ei/signs_symptoms.asp"><span style="color: blue;">signs and symptoms</span></a> of risky behavior you can help your teen seek out positive relationships and stay away from gangs and drugs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Specific ways to help are:</span></b></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Talk to your teen about high risk behavior like involvement with gangs and drugs.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Let your child know that you don’t want to see him or her hurt or arrested. Explain to your child that he or she should NOT: </span></li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Use illicit drugs under any circumstances, and to do so will result in serious consequences.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Associate with gang members.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Attend parties or social events sponsored by gangs.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Use hand signs, symbols or language that is meaningful to gangs.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Intentionally wear clothing, including specific colors, which may have meaning to gangs in your area.</span></li></ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Monitor your teen.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />Know who your teen’s friends are and make a point to meet their parents. Know where your teen is and what he/she is doing during unsupervised time. <span style="color: black;">Set clear rules </span>about what teens’ are allowed to do, where they are allowed to go and who they are allowed to go with. If your teen has a cell phone, have him/her check in periodically with you.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Identify risk factors for delinquent behavior, violence and gang involvement for your teen.  </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The following risk factors have been found to predict delinquent behavior like violence and gang membership. The more risk factors in a youth’s background the more likely he/she is to engage in these types of behaviors. However, getting teens involved in after school activities, such as sports and volunteer opportunities, is an excellent way to reduce the likelihood of them falling into negative behaviors. </span></li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Individual factors: early delinquency (especially violence, very early marijuana use and other drug use), as well as early dating and sexual activity.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Family factors: other gang-involved family members, non-two-parent family structure and poverty. </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">School factors: low achievement, commitment and aspirations; absenteeism; negative labeling by teachers; and lack of a sense of safety in school.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Peer factors: associations with delinquent or aggressive peers.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Community factors: poverty, drug availability, lack of structured activities, gang presence, lack of a sense of safety and attachment.</span></li></ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Recognize warning signs indicating your teen may already be involved with a gang.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />Parents should familiarize themselves with local gang symbols and look for multiple signs to indicate possible gang involvement because some of these indicators alone, such as clothes or musical preferences, are also common among youth not involved in gangs. </span></li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Has unexplained cash or goods, such as clothing or jewelry.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Carries a weapon.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Has been in trouble with the police.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Exhibits negative changes in behavior such as: withdrawing from family; declining school attendance, performance or behavior; staying out late without reason; displaying an unusual desire for secrecy; exhibiting signs of drug use; breaking rules consistently; and speaking in gang-style slang, especially when certain letters of words are substituted (like "flue" for blue, in Blood slang).</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They “hang out” with kids who are obviously in gangs.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Shows an unusual interest in one or two particular colors of clothing or a particular logo.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Has an unusual interest in gangster-influenced music, videos, movies or Web sites.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Uses unusual hand signals to communicate with friends.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Has specific drawings or gang symbols on school books, clothes, walls or tattoos.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Comes home with unexplained physical injuries (fighting-related bruises, injuries to hand/knuckles).³</span></li></ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you suspect that your teen is involved with a gang - ACT QUICKLY.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />As with drug use, parents are encouraged to seek help early. Many of the same strategies for intervening with drug use apply. For additional assistance, parents can also consider contacting school personnel, local law enforcement, faith leaders and community organizations.</span></li></ul>

Tips for Parents: Preventing Your Teen from Joining a Gang.

Parents are the most powerful influence in preventing gang membership, drug use and other risky behaviors in their teens. By being involved ...

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What every parents fears!

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">By Robert Tornabene</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslxjJoenA-PIrYSPNb5tKQ3oQoOIMTdNDZyO3ZShzFKzs8RJvglv6ZfjWoWRqYLrazHZ1GUI4P5kRxV9YbM5oVLZKq93jr3sFGxj4HPtH74nKuapPBofQqDkpg1zl12cwAAwYyS6XY5ZJ/s1600/teendeath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslxjJoenA-PIrYSPNb5tKQ3oQoOIMTdNDZyO3ZShzFKzs8RJvglv6ZfjWoWRqYLrazHZ1GUI4P5kRxV9YbM5oVLZKq93jr3sFGxj4HPtH74nKuapPBofQqDkpg1zl12cwAAwYyS6XY5ZJ/s1600/teendeath.jpg" /></a>Imagine your worst nightmare; your child has just been killed. The very thought is usually too shocking for many parents to comprehend. Any parent would say I will do anything to stop that nightmare from being a reality, right? But, what is even more shocking is that many parents sit idle by while this horror unfolds before their very eyes.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Parenting is a daunting task, one fraught with obstacles, triumphs and failures. As parents we strive to do the best for our children, in our hearts we all want that. But, what happens when what we wish and desire for our children clashes with the reality of our failures? Do we seek help, guidance or work for a positive change, or do we sit back and leave the fate of your child or teen to chance? I think many parents believe that at times if they ignore the problem long enough it will just go away.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The reality is that it won't! Problems with anger, drugs, addiction, criminal activity, or any of the other dozen issues facing teens today just don't go away. We all wish they could, but we all know they just sit there exacerbating the situation, waiting like a virus, too find their victim weak and run down. The thought that your life might emulate some tragic reality can be frightening to many. In some it might even be paralyzing, but what we have to remember and what many won't admit is that you are not alone. Image is not everything, and perceptions can be way off. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are many families who believe they can keep their problems quiet, that its no ones business. They erroneously believe that its more important what others think about you versus what you do to help your child. This can result in a spiraling out of control beyond repair. Do not fall for the "image" excuse! Your 'neighbors' care very little in what happens, beyond how they will spread the gossip. Don't fall for prey to this misguided belief.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5rGs-jNOa5fLWGhdXwieut8lz3tq_sTcunK_n2POoU6Jl2eiA92TLD10QmlK5Wt0I1yUB7l8KD5U2lDMtuXWRhCpCPK7Qj2_OdwDIZLHGopKwnaumIww8Fhocfv4XoQjrWRRpgnvuKmT/s1600/rip-tombstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5rGs-jNOa5fLWGhdXwieut8lz3tq_sTcunK_n2POoU6Jl2eiA92TLD10QmlK5Wt0I1yUB7l8KD5U2lDMtuXWRhCpCPK7Qj2_OdwDIZLHGopKwnaumIww8Fhocfv4XoQjrWRRpgnvuKmT/s200/rip-tombstone.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It's very easy to make 'excuses', 'work', 'stress', 'issues' etc, but the reality they are all excuses to our own procrastination. Yes there are obstacles, financial issues face everyone in these times, but many times we fail to prioritize our needs. This is usually the beginning of the "excuse train." Once the "excuse train" starts rolling, it is difficult to stop, slow to turn, and almost impossible to reverse direction.<br /><br />The savage truth is there are successes, many more, than the failures. Remember our memories are short and easily influenced. Remember this phrase from a journalist, "if it bleeds, it leads" is a sad commentary on humanity but, still a valid truth. Regardless of this successes with at-risk teens occur all the time. These successes are surrounded by tears, laughter, setbacks and joy. Much of these successes are synonymous to a war. There are casualties, injuries and battles which are won or lost, but with conviction, determination and the belief that what you are doing is just you will prevail.<br /><br />What is more just than helping an at-risk youth? 'But it’s so difficult' some say. Agreed, but the alternative mentioned earlier is not an option that is acceptable.

What every parents fears!

By Robert Tornabene Imagine your worst nightmare; your child has just been killed. The very thought is usually too shocking for many parents...

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Another bad idea for a Video Game

If things were not bad enough in the video game industry. A new video game which involves "School Shootings" and "Suicide" has been released. The game developed by Checkerboard Industries, called "School Shooter: American Tour 2012" has a pending release.<br /><br />According to a report in the <a href="http://www.t2conline.com/news-room/headliners/1553-new-video-game-school-shooter-teaches-kids-to-kill-and-commit-suicide">Times Square Chronicle</a>..."The purpose of the video is to kill unarmed students on a school campus. Players use weapons modeled after those used in the shootings at <span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em;">Columbine High School</span> and Virginia Tech.." In the article posted it says that the developer believes that this video game will help to in "<span style="line-height: 1.2em;">preventing school shootings</span> by satisfying violent urges in its players." <span style="color: yellow;"><strong>The game gives player's the option of<span style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.2em;"> committing suicide</span> in the game at the end of their shooting spree.</strong>  </span><span style="color: black;">This is so absurd it is almost as comical as it is tragic. There is absolutely zero benefit in this game being an outlet that can anyway be associated with preventing acts of brazen violence and then providing a suggestion to the user that they commit suicide as a final option.  This is so astonishing, that it absolutely shocks the mind, that someone can truly attempt to portray this as anything but a willful and wanton act at using tragedy and carnage to profit from it!  </span><br /><br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R4_mYYBO3s" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdH74T3up8SAVrs6OdVFMaahiJBN7rUsyZ12e3xmVCJ2zFkQl8XeKplUrQDmpY6BgxhhDx4xr5sfIYdgumwoV9ifmKJXiTh3RKey9FaRcHMJRG6t-uYL9lqudh_T3sf7EBf_g3jeNaB1F/s200/schoolshooter.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screen Shot from Youtube <br />Posting of the Video Game</td></tr></tbody></table> This game poses a series threat to the health safety and welfare of young people. The two dimensional learning environment that will begin to desensitize the minds of young people who might wish to purchase this game most likely will end in a tragic outcome. Please notify all of your fellow professionals, parents and law enforcement officials, elected officials and youth prevention groups.

Another bad idea for a Video Game

If things were not bad enough in the video game industry. A new video game which involves "School Shootings" and "Suicide...

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January Stalking Awareness: Could you be a victim of a stalker?

Stalking is a crime that can touch anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or personal associations. Most stalkers are young to middle-aged men with above-average intelligence. <br /><br /><br /><div> </div>Some stalkers develop an obsession for another person with whom they have no personal relationship. When the victim does not respond as the stalker hopes, the stalker may attempt to force the victim to comply by use of threats and intimidation. When threats and intimidation fail, some stalkers turn to violence.<br /><br /><div> </div>Nobody can truly tell when or why are stalker will begin the actions that lead down the path towards fear, intimidation. One thing is for sure, the victim is not at fault for anything that the stalker Stalking is not an accident, the actions that a stalker take effect millions of people across the United States each year.<br /><br /><div> </div><ul><li>3.4 million people over the age of 18 are stalked each year in the U.S.</li><li>3 in 4 victims are stalked by someone they know.</li><li>Persons aged 18-24 years experience the highest rate of stalking.</li><li>11% of stalking victims have been stalked for 5 years or more.</li><li>1 in 4 victims report being stalked through the use of some form of technology (email or instant messaging).</li><li>10% of victims report being monitored with global positioning systems (GPS)</li><li>8% report being monitored through video or digital cameras or listening devices.</li></ul><br /><div> </div>So how much of an impact does stalking have on their victims. Over 46% of stalking victims fear not knowing what will happen next. Many of the victims fear that the stalking will never stop. Of those victims who are employed, they lose time as a result of their victimization. Over half lose 5 days or work or more.<br /><br /><div> </div>One in seven of the victims are forced to move from their homes or apartment’s because of the victimization. <br /><br /><div> </div>The prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression is much higher among stalking victims than the general population, especially if the stalking involves being followed or having one’s property destroyed.<br /><br /><div> </div>Unfortunately, there is no single psychological or behavioral profile for stalkers. Every stalker is different. This makes it virtually impossible to devise a single effective strategy that can be applied to every situation. It is vital that stalking victims immediately seek the advice of local victim specialists who can work with them to devise a safety plan for their unique situation and circumstances. <br /><br /><div> </div>What is known is that stalking is a crime in Illinois. In Illinois to be charged with Stalking they person must on two separate occasions place a person under surveillance or any combination and transmits a threat, or places the person under reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement or restraint or places that person in reasonable apprehension that a family member will receive immediate or future bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement or restraint.<br /><br /><div> </div>There are other law such as Cyberstalking, Sending of Obscene Messages, Harassment by Telephone, Harassment through Electronic Communications. Each of these laws combined with the stalking law can raise the offense from a Class 4 Felony to a Class 2 Felony. Judges typically impose long sentences on Stalking Offenders.<br /><br /><div> </div>

January Stalking Awareness: Could you be a victim of a stalker?

Stalking is a crime that can touch anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or per...

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Girls and Gangs, their growing influence in today’s society

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL9vjezcM592olcSx4XZRIxaRDkcLozkChBRd0kIWd-jBhcIj7MIbKRUseNeIrKX9jdy4mypkw4sVJMiwgFSCVskHH67c_VBHnAFXtRaTU_Q04NT4hQH1gZQQ2b1VMnE485rar5ChA34t/s1600/female+latin+queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL9vjezcM592olcSx4XZRIxaRDkcLozkChBRd0kIWd-jBhcIj7MIbKRUseNeIrKX9jdy4mypkw4sVJMiwgFSCVskHH67c_VBHnAFXtRaTU_Q04NT4hQH1gZQQ2b1VMnE485rar5ChA34t/s1600/female+latin+queen.jpg" /></a></div>Girls in Gangs is probably one of the most misrepresented or ignored areas of gang prevention and intervention. There are limited studies on the overall involvement of girls in gangs, much of it is characterized by a gender bias. When researchers do study the issue, their sources for information are frequently male gang members. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6evhyphenhyphenCuKdTTYn06YSA5BM3QtNKPdpCpJayVy4fGWYqBUM2EuSwffjBYaQ-dcmU1Ju0dgIi2VivI49OaNv2gG5mGFToxuXkjQ3QVpxltm0W7oVWq3gFkuGwLtdt6qbNuxoQ-EHDifGFA9/s1600/856454044_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6evhyphenhyphenCuKdTTYn06YSA5BM3QtNKPdpCpJayVy4fGWYqBUM2EuSwffjBYaQ-dcmU1Ju0dgIi2VivI49OaNv2gG5mGFToxuXkjQ3QVpxltm0W7oVWq3gFkuGwLtdt6qbNuxoQ-EHDifGFA9/s200/856454044_l.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />During early research conducted by Thrasher and other experts erroneously believed that female gang members were nothing more than “sexual objects” to be controlled by male gang members. In Thrashers study in 1936, which is considered the first comprehensive study of gangs and gang violence, even Thrasher dismissed girl gang participation within the gang subculture as auxiliary in nature. What Thrasher was implying is that female gang member involvement was strictly for social or sexual activities.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thrasher’s study is most often the model for which many other studies are based on in the area of gang research. However, recent research has shown that female gang involvement is on the rise and their overall involvement in gang-related criminal activities is on the rise out pacing their male counterparts. </div><br /><br /><br />The explosion of females may be a by product of cultural, socio-economic issues that plague society as a whole. Many females frustrated by the absence of equal rights, the inability to voice their influence, has forced a moved to from their own groups. Female gang members today have little concern over the impression they have on the opposite sex, the majority of their problems are often gender related, sexual abuse, male violence and pregnancy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTm1k-n8501TSuq6jG08W6he770R6_hZBCrWmgzd9t7dDg4FK1O7KRa9q74p6Gv2fy14DoOvZ6FO1oZYMzJWwQVMxR5TQU3SP85QeP7YCmbU6N_iEOqodlIHAtJlouuJ000omvwN-w49D/s1600/fsur1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTm1k-n8501TSuq6jG08W6he770R6_hZBCrWmgzd9t7dDg4FK1O7KRa9q74p6Gv2fy14DoOvZ6FO1oZYMzJWwQVMxR5TQU3SP85QeP7YCmbU6N_iEOqodlIHAtJlouuJ000omvwN-w49D/s1600/fsur1.bmp" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Girls join gangs for a variety of reasons as do their male counterparts. But in the female gang subculture they are laying claim to an area in exerting power and control over their area of control in order to achieve status.</div><br /><br /><br />According to research conducted by Joan Moore’s research female gang-affiliated members come from the same dysfunctional environment and harmful types of homes as the male members, but the girls were much more expressive about this. They stated that joining a gang was like a path to liberation from the stereotypical roles they would be forced into in traditional society. However, many female gang members experience severe problems in the gang including sexual exploitations and violence.<br /><br /><br /><br />Joining a gang provides a female with promises of financial reward, identity and status. Female gang members are also more likely to hold down a respectable job at the same time that they are involved in gang activity. If girls are part of a male gang, they are often asked to commit crimes at the gang leader’s bidding because many law-enforcement officers may be more inclined to let girls get away with more criminal activity, simply because of their gender.<br /><br /><br /><br />Girls who do not wish to be subjected to abuse amongst the male gangs turn to all girl gangs as their liberation to exert control over their lives. They also join out of frustration because they are the ones committing crimes, running drugs and putting themselves in danger and they reap none of the rewards and their male counterparts maintain control.<br /><br /><br /><br />Part of the liberation for a female gang member in joining an all girl gang is that they avoid a catch 22 that is common in the gang culture. That Catch-22 called the “lover girl”, “ho” or “down” girl, “gang hoppers”, these are the girls who seek status by dating male gang members and who attempt to participate in gang life without a formal initiation. In the gang subculture in which power, control and machismo is a driving force, the girls who are “play things” for male gang members are looked down upon both by male gang members and full fledged female gang members. <br /><br /><br /><br />According to Campbell and Moore most females join gangs for friendship and self-affirmation, but recent research shows that economic and family pressures motivate many young women to join gangs.<br /><br /><br /><br />Due to recent economic shifts and changes in the welfare system, the total number of persons on welfare has been reduced. This reduction or eliminated welfare payment has forced many economically deprived women into positions in which they have to make money in order to survive or provide for family. Some have turned to prostitution, while others have turned to gangs as a means of “earning money.”<br /><br /><br /><br />Family pressures seem to be a constant where female gang membership flourishes. According to Moore, high proportions of female gang members have experienced sexual abuse at home. In Los Angeles, 29 percent of a large representative sample of Mexican American female gang members had been abused at home and there homes were more likely than male gang members to include drug users and persons arrested for crimes. Miller cites that a majority noted family problems as a contributing factor,” citing drug addiction and abuse as the most common problems.<br /><br /><br /><br />Laidler and Hung found that in San Francisco, CA, a large multi ethnic study of female gang members describes them as “resisting normative forms of femininity” but also “devising alternative forms for femininity.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><u>Drugs and Girls</u></strong><br />In a study conducted by Moore and Hagedorn of African American and Latina female gang members in Milwaukee showed that many more females were dealing drugs, but they were less likely to do so than were males. According to their study about one-half of the female gang members and three quarters of male gang members had sold cocaine in their lives. A higher percentage of Latina females, 72 percent and 81 percent for Latino males. Compared to African American females 31 percent and male 69 percent. <br /><br /><br /><br />A 1993 study conducted by Taylor which looked at Detroit’s “corporate gangs” that is gangs organized for “financial gang by criminal action.” The study revealed that both autonomous (all female) and gender-integrated selling crews were involved in drug street economy. The position of females in the drug dealing business has changed, which was accelerated by the collapse of job opportunities in the inner city and the collapse of neighborhood social structure. As drug dealing became more common among gang members, autonomous female dealers occasionally emerged. <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><u>Ethnicity and Gender Roles in the Gang</u></strong><br />Most female gangs are either African America or Latina, although there are small numbers of Asian and white female gangs, there numbers are still small in comparison to the later two. <br /><br /><br /><br />Autonomy, African American and white female gang members would be more autonomous and Latinas more subordinate to their male counterparts. Factors that played into autonomy included the Male unemployment and the incarceration of the many males who are convicted of illegal economic activities removes males from both Latino and African America households. As a result, women must rely on their own resources to support themselves and their children.<br /><br /><br /><br />In Taylor’s Detroit study he found that “the female is an intrinsic part of the gangs group identity who participate in gang activities.” Former female gang members reported that even though police ignored then, they were just as involved in gang warfare, drinking, and sex as the male members of their gang.<br /><br /><br /><br />African American females were more likely than Latinas to be employed, less likely to be on welfare, and more likely to have moved away from their old gang neighborhoods (Hagedorn and Devitt, 1999) The comparison conducted in this study showed that Latina who had gang membership tended to have significant influence on their later lives, but for African America females the gang tended to be an episode. <br /><br /><br /><br />Latina female gang members were more likely to fight side by side of their male counterparts and they were more likely to use hard drugs. Latina female gang members also felt that the gang played an important part in their lives <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><u>Long-term Consequences of Gang life</u></strong><br />For many young girls joining the gang subculture can be an adolescent episode, for others it is a gateway to a lifestyle to behaviors that are socially and morally unacceptable. Long term effects of the gang subculture have different effects based on ethnicity and race. For example where as African American females gang membership is Milwaukee was considered an adolescent episode, Mexican America females had long lasting effects. For example, Mexican America females who joined a gang in Los Angeles were likely from families that were already stigmatized by conventional community residents. Many had joined the gang to escape abusive families but their membership actually restrained their futures. Most female gang members married male gang members whose careers often involved repeated incarceration. In contrast less that one-fifth of the male gang members married females from the gang. Of additional constraint on a female gang members life is children. Most male gang members also have children but the consequences are more restrictive for females.<br /><br />_____ <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Harris, MN. 1988. Cholas: Latino Girls and Gangs, New York, NY: AMS Press</span> <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Girls in Gangs, http://www.essortment.com/all/girlsgang_rbhl.htm</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mydans, Seth, “Life in Girls’ Gang: Colors and Bloody Noses”, New York Times, January 29, 1999</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Miller, Jody, “One of the Guys: Girls, Gangs and Gender”, Oxford Press, New York, NY</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Moore, Joan & Hagedorn, John, “Female Gangs: A focus on Research”, OJJDP, Juvenile Justice Bulletin, March 2001</span>

Girls and Gangs, their growing influence in today’s society

Girls in Gangs is probably one of the most misrepresented or ignored areas of gang prevention and intervention. There are limited studies on...

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Gang Units: Be Inclusive not Exclusive

In the last few years all across the nation, law enforcement agencies and municipalities formed gang units. This action was a direct response in a spike or uptick of gang violence, street crimes and narcotics trafficking. <br /><br /><br /><br />Law Enforcement is typically a reactive entity. Something happens we react. The news media gets a good story, citizens complain, politicians get asked that question, “what are you doing to…?” So we in law enforcement react. The simplest approach is to send officer’s out there, make arrests and send the ‘bad guys to jail.’<br /><br /><br />In the last fifteen years we have seen street gangs move across the country. Back in the early eighties it was the Bloods/Crips, in the early 90’s Asian street gangs, in the late 90’s and early part of the century it was Sureno’s. Now we have the threat of MS-13. Where even the FBI has a task force created just to address the issue of MS-13. <br /><br /><br />Let me take you back a few years to a training opportunity I was allowed to attend through my department. In the November 2006 I attended the 3rd annual Chicago Gang Crime Summit. This is a one day course for Chicago Police Tactical Officers and Metropolitan Police Officers to learn about gang trends, current conflicts and to see what truly works against entrenched street gangs.<br /><br /><br />The Chicago Police Department has to be the most tech savvy department in the country. They have officers who can view live video feeds from “POD Cams”. They have sophisticated crime analysis software and deploy additional manpower based on the results. They have Commanders and Captains with Blackberry devices, video cameras in several squad cars and even automated license plate reading patrol vehicles. <br /><br /><br />While I sat through this very well attended training and received some very valuable information I came to a realization that they were missing something very important. What are they doing for prevention and intervention? What has Chicago done to improve quality of life? I also was thinking are we truly getting the most bang for our buck?<br /><br />Chicago has been for decades one of the best cities for sending their problems elsewhere. As the Chicago Police Department increased it’s tempo on street gangs, street crime and narcotics sales, they also went after problem buildings. <br /><br /><br />Chicago Police Department’s Problem Building Section went after homes, apartment buildings and property owners in an effort to reign in drugs and gangs. Ultimately they condemn the property, seize it, raze it or rebuild it. But because the property that is taken over, becomes pricey, that the local community members cannot afford it. Those that love the neighborhood and want to stay there, can’t keep up with urban renewal. Ultimately Chicago PD displace their problem onto someone else. <br /><br /><br />This displacement results in gang members traveling to communities that are not prepared for such activity or are just unable to see the problem arise until it is too late. As the problems continue to rise, communities will see increased street violence, property crime and substance abuse. Along with the increase in crime comes the demand for increased services through other agencies, including schools, medical and social. <br /><br /><br />Several years ago in Plano, Texas they experienced multiple deaths from high quality Heroin. The response to this issue was slow, because it wasn’t seen immediately. In early 2006 and across the Midwest overdoses from Fentanyl laced heroin caused hundreds of deaths. The response was slow, over 6 months before agencies starting communicating. The EMS agencies knew there was a problem, social services saw the problem, but law enforcement frequently says “it’s a junkie, so what?”<br /><br /><br />In order to address the gang issue, drugs and crime we need to attack it from all sides. Not to sound like a psychotherapist, but what is the root cause of the issue? I do not mean, all combined. I mean individually. There are reasons why young people in central Illinois travel several hours to Chicago’s west side to purchase their drugs. What are they lacking in their home communities that turn them to heroin use. <br /><br /><br />When we form task forces, gang units and street crime suppression units, we should be coordinating with everyone from schools, community groups, parents, businesses and religious organizations. Why? So that when these tasks forces go into play there are in place alternatives for young people to turn to. Activities such as sports, jobs, job skills training, tutoring, mentoring, spiritual guidance and counseling. <br /><br /><br />We need to train those officers about the available resources, teach them to begin mentoring young people from that first street stop. There is a gang cycle going on. That cycle repeats itself and has been repeating itself for over 50 years. We need to start interrupting it by not displacing the problem. We can no longer believe that where our borders end our problems stop. <br /><br /><br />If we didn’t learn that prior to September 11th, we had better learn it now. Look what happened after Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of thousands of people displaced, no jobs, little hope, no homes, stuffed into already struggling communities across the nation. Crime jumped, no wonder why? I am sure we all thought thank god that’s not my community.

Gang Units: Be Inclusive not Exclusive

In the last few years all across the nation, law enforcement agencies and municipalities formed gang units. This action was a direct respons...

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More dead many wounded in Chicago. When will it stop?

Well if you have been following the violence that has been running rampant in Chicago, this probably will not surprise you. <a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/at-least-9-injured-in-overnight-shootings.html">Chicago Breaking News</a> posted one teen dead and 11 wounded in one night and it wasn't even the weekend. One would think that when Chicago Police Superintendent <a href="https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/WeisMessageSept2010">Jody Weiss</a> meet with Gang Leaders that he would have scared them into submission. Instead it seems they are only holding up there fingers to the Weiss. They do not fear the threat that Weiss offered because they see the Police getting investigated for crimes and prosecuted. Or Officers who kill an armed assailant on a <a href="http://cbs2chicago.com/local/cta.police.shooting.2.1919432.html">CTA Train</a> early last week are accused of executing the "unarmed" man.<br /><br />When will the good people of Chicago wake up and send a message to their elected officials. Enough is enough. In the upcoming Mayoral Election all the hacks who were never law and order types in the first place will start screaming for more law and order. A hypocrisy I say!

More dead many wounded in Chicago. When will it stop?

Well if you have been following the violence that has been running rampant in Chicago, this probably will not surprise you. Chicago Breaking...

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What is GATE?

GATE is a school based gang, drug and violence prevention program for grades K through high school. It is one of the fastest growing prevention and intervention programs available to law enforcement, educators and prevention specialists today.<br /><br />It boasts three main curriculum's, GATE Kids K-4, GATE grades 5-8 and RADICAL, which covers high school level. The curriculum's are easy to teach, designed to be age appropriate, with lesson plans cover, anger, diversity, self-esteem, bullying, gangs awareness, dating violence, racial intolerance, team building, civic pride, law, internet safety, dating violence, driving safety and community service.

What is GATE?

GATE is a school based gang, drug and violence prevention program for grades K through high school. It is one of the fastest growing prevent...

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