Assessing Gang Enforcement Detail Officer Attitudes towards Gangs and Gang Members

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Assessing Gang Enforcement Detail Officer
Attitudes towards Gangs and Gang Members

• Lourdes R. Morales
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
• University of California, Irvine
• May 16, 2009
• Faculty Mentor
• Dr. Elliott Currie

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Outline

• Introduction
• Statement of the Problem
• Research Questions
• Literature Review
• Methods
• Findings
• Policy Recommendations
• Acknowledgements
• Questions

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Introduction
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Introduction

• Impact of Gangs
• Prevalent in many different communities
• Participate in criminal activities
• Destabilize communities

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Statement of the Problem
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Statement of the Problem

• Gangs and gang violence are pervasive in Los
  Angeles, California.
• 720 identified gangs
• 39,000 gang members
• Decrease in serious crime, but 14 increase in
  gang related crime
• South Los Angeles saw a 25 increase in gang
  related violence
• (Gang Reduction Strategy, 2008)

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Research Questions
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Research Questions

• What is the nature of the relationship between
  GED officers and gang members?
• How do GED officers interact with gang members?
  What role does the behavior and/or demeanor of
  the gang member play?

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Literature Review
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Literature Review

• Discretion
• Officers use of discretion is not arbitrary but
  rather a result of well defined, yet informal,
  rules (Stroshine, Alpert, Dunham, 2008)
• The code of science
• Intended to elicit feelings of loyalty and
  comradery among officers, but can also serve to
  insulate officers and facilitate the use of
  excessive force (Skolnick, 2008)
• The role of morality
• Officer disposition is largely based on officers
  discretionary evaluation of juveniles commitment
  to deviant behavior (Piliavin Briar, 1964)
• Gaps in literature

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Methods
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Methods

• Site
• LAPD 77th Street Division
• South L.A., California
• 11.9 square mile area
• 175,000 residents
• Participants
• Gang Enforcement
• Detail (GED) Officers

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Methods

• Research Design
• Qualitative case study
• Procedure
• Interview n12
• Observation n3
• Data Analysis
• Recurring themes and trends

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Findings
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Findings RQ1

• What is the nature of the relationship between
  GED officers and gang members?
• Surveillance and intelligence
• Intervention and rehabilitation
• Arrest Catch the big fish

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Findings RQ2

• How do GED officers interact with gang members?
  What role does the behavior and/or demeanor of
  the gang member play?
• Discretion
• Cooperative gang members
• Uncooperative gang members

I think tax payers money is better spent if Im
looking for the crook instead of dealing with a
few guys drinking on the street.

-GED Officer
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Findings RQ2 Continued

• How do GED officers interact with gang members?
  What role does the behavior and/or demeanor of
  the gang member play?
• Differing perspectives on the role of GED
• Public safety
• Community outreach

I know when a gang member gets out of jail
hell be right back on the streets, but at least
for those months he wasnt out committing crimes
When he does something again, well get him.

-GED Officer
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Policy Recommendations
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Policy Recommendations

• Use of surveillance and intelligence information
  for intervention and rehabilitation
• Collaboration between the police department,
  education system, and social services
• Cultivate greater support in community outreach

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Acknowledgments
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Acknowledgments

• LAPDs 77th Street Division GED Officers
• Dr. Elliott Currie
• Dr. Kristen Day
• UROP

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Questions?