Limitation of Street Gangs as it Relates to Community and Traditional Policing (Essay Sample)

Limitations of Street Gangs as it Relates to Community and Traditional policing
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A gang is an organization or association of more than two people with a hierarchical form of administration anda territory which they claim whose main aim includes committing of criminal offences which mainly are achieved through violent means (). Street gangs tend to have long-term or short-term goals, a sophisticated gang language and a set of rules which should be followed (Michael K. Carlie, 2002).Street gangs are more common in the United States, and they mostly bring about juvenile delinquency. Peer pressure mainly causes them, the type of environment one grew up in, the role models they look up to, the level of education, and the choices one makes in life.
The government uses both community and street policing to combat street gangs. Community policing involves the community teaming up with the local police to combat crime. The community helps the police with investigations by providing useful information regarding a particular suspect in question. The animosity between the police and the public is reduced as there is some level of trust between the two parties. In community policing, the police are not overworked since everyone looks out for everyone, more like the "neighborhood watch”.
The traditional policing involves general police work. There are three forms of traditional policing: random routine patrol, emergency response and crime investigation (Noel Lawrence, 2015). In the random routine patrol, the policemen walk in a designated geographical area ensuring that everything goes on well. The patrol may be in a car, a horseback or on foot.It is the lowest form of traditional policing, and most police start their careers at this stage. Emergency response involves assisting those in need of immediate help.If there is any emergency call, the policeare immediately sent to the scene to check on the problem and solve it. Whether it is by conducting arrests or assisting the one in need. The crime investigation is usually the highest level in traditional policing. It involves the detectives who usually question the witnesses, collect evidences and forward the case to the attorney after conducting enough evidence.
Community policing is better at handling street gangs. The main reason is because most of the gang members operating at a specific territory are known to the community better than the police does. Community policing tends to bring communities together (NLCATP, 2015). People from a specific community come together when conducting policing. They have better knowledge about a street gang operating in the area. The police and the public also come together to achieve a specific goal. Hence, the animosity is reduced between these two parties. It also deters crime. The idea of the community working closely with the police makes one aware of the dangers of committing a crime. The possibility of someone seeing you try and break in or rob another person is too high. And with the community acting as ‘eyes and ears’ of the police, chances are the crime won’t go unpunished. The gang members will also be wary of their actions as they are aware that they are being watched by the same community that raised them.
Community policing also creates trust among the community and the police. The mistrust and misunderstanding that has always been there, between the police and the general public will be no more. Instead, since the community will now understand the police work, they will try and assist them wherever possible. They may prove useful in trying to decode some of the gang languages. They also may help in reducing the number of gang members by asking the community to try and educate the same members about the dangers of gang operations.
Some of the limitations that are involved with community policing include power struggle. As is the issue in all democratic organizations, thepower struggle is always a cha...