Week 4: BLOG #5 Family and Community Violence: Gang Intervention Efforts

TRIANGLE
In the video, Glen Mills Gang: Arrested Without Locks and Bars, Glen Mills is an institution alternative to any prison. This school has several benefits for the youth that are placed here. Its main focus is to change behavior, education opportunity and rehabilitation. Those who are put in Glen Mill have norms that they have to follow. For instance, they do not allow running on campus. They are also required to have a change in behavior, because they are being taught academics and correction. This is a benefit for them because these juveniles get the opportunity to change their perspective of schooling because the staffs have a positive attitude at all times. Many of the members have engaged positively in their educational goals. Some of the youths here have had the opportunity to graduate and obtain a GED. Some get vocational training, which helps them to work on what they would do for a job in the future. These techniques are important because they have the opportunity to grow individually. They also get some other important opportunities such as getting credits for college. Many of the students are engaged in sports and they are accepted in the gang. Once a month they get together to get an award, this give them the opportunity to encourage themselves on doing better in a daily basis. When a new person comes in they encourage them to do their best. Positive behavior is accomplishes by having a positive attitude. This is the best place to give others the opportunity to talk and give their opinions. Student counseling gives them the opportunity to speak out and by letting them engage in a conversation. This gives them the opportunity to grow as a group with the respect and the confidence that they need to accomplish what they want. They are a stronger gang in this institution, but also a more committed gang.

SQUARE
I agree that many programs aim towards violence prevention, but most of the time it is achieved if the person really wants to put violence to an end. This programs main focus is on crime prevention. For instance, in the reading Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention, it takes a closer look at intervention. This was an important factor because it stops violence by putting problem resolution strategies into play. This was one of the most successful programs because they looked at the problem and looked for ways to resolve it.

CIRCLE
In many circumstances some of the youth that are involved with gangs or any criminal activity do not get an opportunity to rehabilitate. But, for many being placed in an institution that will help them become a better individual is better than being put in jail. It was interesting to know that many individuals still have an opportunity to be back in society. How can a teenager stay out of problems when coming back into society? Will they become involved in gangs and violence or will this stop?