There is both good news and bad news on the gang front. The bad news is that gangs are creeping down into middle schools and they have become the new epicenters for gang recruitment as well as gang activity. Middle schoolers are typically aged 11-15.
The good news is that gang activity and crime have dropped since 2004. In 2007, gang offenses in public schools were down 37%. Much of the good news is attributed to the efforts of the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force.
In releasing the Northern Virginia Comprehensive Gang Assessment, a study of the region’s gang activity from 2003 to 2008, officials emphasized that although middle school gang activity is a concern, gangs are less of a problem in Northern Virginia and its schools than they are elsewhere. They credited the task force and a strong regional economy.
“The task force is working. It is making a difference,” said Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), who was instrumental in forming the group. “People are looking to this area for what is a growing problem nationwide.”
Across Northern Virginia, gang members are responsible for 5 percent of violent crime and 2 percent of crime overall, according to the report. Law enforcement officials estimate the number of gang members in the area at 5,000 and the number of gangs or cliques at 80 to 100. About 3,000 of the gang members come from Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, but the Southside Locos, Bloods, Crips and 18th Street also have significant a regional presence.
“Unlike many settings in the United States . . . gangs in Northern Virginia have failed to gain an entrenched foothold,” said Kenneth F. Billingsley, the director of information and demographic services for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the report’s author.
“There is no evidence in the data to suggest a worsening of the conditions in Northern Virginia public schools.”
Responsible residents need to make sure that our local politicians and the community mouthpieces do not misrepresent gang activity and use it for political gain. Nothing stirs a community up like thinking MS-13 is taking over the neighborhood. Finding balance is the important issue. Communities need to remain vigilant and at the same time, not see gang members crawling out from under every rock. Validating gang wannabees is not in the best interest of schools or communities.
Unlike many settings in the United States . . . gangs in Northern Virginia have failed to gain an entrenched foothold,” said Kenneth F. Billingsley, the director of information and demographic services for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the report’s author.
“There is no evidence in the data to suggest a worsening of the conditions in Northern Virginia public schools.”
No police officers from anti-gang units spoke at the news conference, and Arlington and Fairfax counties declined to make any available for comment on the report afterward.
Despite the good news in the report, more and more students are forging their first gang ties at younger ages, Billingsley said. In interviews with 50 current and former gang members and their associates, researchers found that 75 percent of gang members joined by age 14 and 25 percent joined by age 12, according to the report.
Immigration and shifting demographics are also cause for concern, authorities said. More than 40 percent of the gang members arrested by the regional gang task force were charged with a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement violation, according to the study.
Gangs are “still a threat,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson. “They’re still here. They’re still living in the communities.”
It is important to note that not all gangs mentioned above are Latino gangs.
Full article in the Washington Post.
So let me get this straight. Not only was crime going down during the time when all the immigrants moved in, but the gang imprint (Latino gangs or no) was losing its foothold, even as Greg Letiecq and Corey Stewart tried to frighten the county’s senior citizens into believing crime was on the rise.
That ain’t nice to scare old people just to feed your ego and amass power. Ain’t nice to lie to the public either.
“It is important to note that not all gangs mentioned above are Latino gangs.” However: “More than 40 percent of the gang members arrested by the regional gang task force were charged with a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement violation, according to the study.” Therefore since almost half of all gang members came to this country illegally, then the suppression of illegal immigration is a very effective gang deterrent. Now how on earth could you argue FOR illegal immigration, and not be suspect of those who are illegal? The hell with bringing up the Resolution, if it caused illegals to move out, then some also took their gang members, or potential gang members with them. In my book that’s a GOOD thing!
Most here accused PWC of demonizing the Latino community in the past. Sounds to me that they are bringing it on themselves considering that 40% of the gang involvement is generated by a community that may be at best 20% of the population. So they are approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in gang activity than non-Latinos. So now who are you going to blame? We still don’t know how many more in the gangs may have been Latino, but legally in the country, and therefore didn’t contribute to the 40% figure.
The gang task force works because it is regional and they share information and resources. Two of their members spent three hours in July talking to our Neighborhood Watch.
There are many things citizens can do to support the task force and be proactive. Call in graffiti when you see it. Join Neighborhood Watch. Link Neighborhood Watches together to share information. Join the county’s Neighborhood Leader’s Group (next meeting is Nov. 18 at 7 pm at Dev Services Bldg). Go to the City’s Neighborhood Conference on Nov. 14, 9-3pm — there’s a Neighborhood Watch Roundtable with a local and two national Neighborhood Watch/Community Safety experts (register at http://www.manassascity.org).
Volunteer at your local schools, afterschool mentoring programs like Don Bosco in Georgetown South or the Boys & Girls Club in the City and County and be a positive role model for youth. Welcome newcomers to your neighborhood and help them feel at home. If there’s criminal activity and safety issues in your neighborhood work with local police to build community and get to know your neighbors. Point of Woods has gotten slammed on this blog — in the past six months they have done a community yard sale, three cleanups, they’re partnering with Manassas St. Thomas Church, won a $200 grant for a beautification project AND had a phenomenal festival this past Sunday with food, entertainment, kids activities, a fire truck — they hadn’t had anything like that in four years. These are volunteers, taking time to make improvements and build their neighborhood pride.
That’s how you fight gangs and support the regional gang task force. Get involved. Be proactive. Wolf said it on the video clip. Don’t sit back and blame others and expect law enforcement to clean up the result.
Thank you M-H for sharing this information, and for the blog administrators for not allowing a gang symbol avatar.
Thanks, Cindy.
SA, I threw in that caveat at the end because people leap to the conclusion that all the gangs in the area are Latino. Arlington has its share of Asian gangs. I believe Centreville does also. Crips and Bloods are primarily African American males.
No one is defending illegal immigrants, just clarifying that the problem extends beyond the illegal immigrant community.
Prince William County has its own gang unit and its own gang specialists in the school system. I expect the cities have something similar. As Cindy has said, communication and information exchange is crucial.
re: gang avatar
We are trying to get our friend back. The joke ‘stuck.’ And it was a joke, nothing more.
email me: [email protected]
One Last Try.
This is not really Slowpoke. I am trying to get him back onboard with us.
M-H
Slowpoke, I have set up another account for you. Read your email at the one linked to the picture. You will get right through if you just use the email address I left you.
Actually, the last one I did had the cartoon on it! Check in moderation purgatory!
It took a while, but after I changed the avatar, it finally timed out and the one I tried worked! But it’s tied to the old email address.
no cartoons in purgatory, Slow. You got the gift that keeps on giving, it looks like. All the ones I saw had you in your youth picture.
Mr. Alamo, you are making Republicans look foolish again. A larger number of the people living below the poverty level are African American. Would it follow then that the best way to fight against poverty would be to ban African Americans?
Elena has brought up the stats regarding serial killers being predominantly white males. Shall white males be banned in order to protect against serial killing?
Some thinking would be in order before you post, even anonymously as you are considered the leading voice of extremism masquerading as Republicanism on this comment board.
Mr. Alamo, you are making Republicans look foolish again. A larger number of the people living below the poverty level are African American. Would it follow then that the best way to fight against poverty would be to ban African Americans? Elena has brought up the stats regarding serial killers being predominantly white males. Shall white males be banned in order to protect against serial killing? Some thinking would be in order before you post, even anonymously as you are considered the leading voice of extremism masquerading as Republicanism on this comment board.
The radical anti-immigrant police state you, Mr. Alamo, wish to support has come and gone. We tried it in PWC and it was a disaster economically, a disaster for taxpayers, and a disaster for our public safety as well. It damaged if not destroyed decades of excellent work by our police force to develop trust with minority communities. Who knows how much MORE crime has gone up than statistics already suggest, considering that African Americans and Hispanics have lost a degree of trust in our police force to apply the law fairly, and thus are less likely to report crimes.
The sun has set on your ill-conceived and panicked over-reaction to this issue. We are now going to try it the other way, with calm and reason.
The same old arguments attempting to attach ignorance and racism to crime perceptions is no longer effective, so why keep at it?
SA is entitled to his opinion, even if many disagree.
I do think it is important to note that there are other ethnicities involved with gangs. It isn’t just the hispanic community. There are also white people involved with gangs.
M-H, I am not suggesting Mr. Alamo is unintitled to his opinon, but MY opinion is that it is counter-productive. A few more years of organizing all white coalitions and the GOP will be in a 20 point demographic hole for national elections, for decades. Hell, the anti-immigrant propaganda approach doesn’t even work today. Tom Trancredo was trounced, everywhere.
Can someone please tell the gang members in my area (rt.1)… I don’t think they got the memo…
LBH, I take it you live in a nice neighborhood free of gang graffitti. Please correct me if I’m wrong… If that is the case why don’t you try taking a stroll down rt.1 Friday night, maybe between Featherstone plaza and Murmbsco.
Do you report them when you see them, Hello? And are they wearing their gang colors?