Post on 27-Mar-2018
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UCSC Presentation: Gangs, Probation Programs,
Interventions.
Gina Castañeda Deputy Probation Officer
County of Santa Cruz California
GROWING UP n Childhood
n Family n Abuse n Addiction
n Adolescence n Gang life-style n Homelessness n Abandonment
GROWING UP
n School n Elementary, Ms. Fennal n Jr. High School, Ms. Maguaffin & Ms. Reed n High School, Mr. Dorfman n The “BUS DRIVER”
n Career (Jeri Ross) n Salud Para La Gente n Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student assistance n Santa Cruz County Probation
PROBATION OFFICER Community Service Officer n My Case Load
n High Risk youth n Gang involved youth n High needs youth
n Critical Incident Team, CIT n BASTA Intervention Team, BIT n Assigned to 4 Court and Community Schools n Azteca’s Soccer Program
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The History of Gangs California Gang History n Pachucos 1900s n Cholos 1945 n Gangsters 1990
“Respect” *You need to know your gang
history to be able to work with the youth that are impacted
Gang Crime and Violence n Who do gangs affect? n Gang Violence is
wide spread, dangerous and can be deadly in our community!
n Victim #1 vs. Victim #2
Factors which indicate children are at risk for becoming Gang Members
Family • Parents graduate from gangs themselves. They see nothing
wrong with their child being involved in gangs…encouragement (“assembly line of production”). The whole family is involved in gangs (Quinceaneras, parties, ect.).
Factors continued • Non-English speaking parents. Their customs are from a culture vastly
different from Californian culture. Their children adapt rapidly to the “new ways” and lose respect for their parents “old ways.”
n Gangs become youth’s surrogate family, fulfilling their basic needs. • Many of these factors may overlap each other.
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Factors Continued
Protection n For protection against rival gangs:
If an individual grows up in a gang neighborhood, their neighbors and friends will be gang related. Family members are involved in gangs. They may be perceived as gang members.
n Non gang members, or young gang members, can be pressured into standing up for themselves or their neighborhood; this might be one of the first steps in gang recruitment.
n Their neighborhood becomes their territory. n FEAR on the streets.
Factors continued
Sense of Power *****Volunteer from the class*****
n Gang members having a driving “need to belong.” Their gang loyalty will often be professed, even as a last dying breath.
n Violence has a huge impact in the role of power. n A gang member’s pride in their neighborhood, however poor it may be, is intense and
should be considered. n Gang activity on school campuses:
Acts of vandalism, graffiti, student and teacher intimidation, and physical violence. n What happens off campus will find it’s way onto campus. n Youth also find power in gangster music, videos, movies, T.V., and on the internet.
These all support what they already see on the streets.
Factors continued Respect n Fear vs. Respect n Reputation becomes
the most important possession.
Factors continued n Intergenerational 1st
through 4th Generation.
n Minimal adult supervision or involvement.
n Adults working outside the home with long hours and low wages.
n Single parents. n One or more adults in the home are, or
were, incarcerated. n Parental denial. n Gang members view activity differently
than the general public: “The Norm”.
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OUR COMMUNITY Knowing what impacts our communities will
help you see the community’s strengths. n Culture n Gang culture
Norteno Gang Identification Gangs use different numbers, letters, and colors to identify. Gang Name Norteño Norté Northside Northerner Gang Number XIV X4 14 Gang Color Red 10 Gangs in South County
Norteno Gang Identification Gangs use different numbers, letters, and colors to identify. Neighborhood Names and lettering North side (1970 started as Green Valley Midgets) NS, NSW
(strawberry) North side Chicos NSC Las Monas/North Side Girls City Hall (1978) CHW, WCH (Down town Watsonville) Loco Park LPW, LP (East Front St.) Clifford Manner (Mid 1990) CML , 265, (Clifford
Manner apartments, Clifford St.) W Green Valley (1990) VGV, GVL (Sunny Meadows
apartments, Freedom area)
Mesa Village Mesa, Mesa Locos (Mesa Village, Pinto Lake county Park area)
Watson Varrio Norté WVN (Any where in Watsonville) Landis St. (2011) Landis St. (death of Jesse L.)
Norteno Gang Identification Gangs use different numbers, letters, and colors to identify. Norteño Norté Northside Northerner Gang Number XIV X4 14 Gang Color Red Neighborhood Names and lettering North side Santa Cruz (D.J. documented in 1993, Mex./American) NSSC
10 active areas in SC County-Watsonville & Mid county. West Side Santa Cruz (1970) WSSC
Started out as typical Hispanic Norteno gang, but changed to doppers/surfers Multicultural
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Sureno Gang Identification Gang Name Sureño SUR Southerner
Gang Number
XIII X3 13
Gang Color
Blue
3 Gangs in South County
Sureno Gang Identification Gang Name Sureño SUR Southerner Gang Number XIII X3 13 Gang Color Blue Neighborhood Names and Lettering Poor Side Watsonville (1980) PSW, PSL Poor Side Chicos PSC (Pajaro, 101 West Front St., Levy area, but also anywhere in Watsonville) Mexican Side Locos (1999) MSL, MSW (Pajaro, West Front St., Levy area, but also any where in Watsonville)
Sureno Gang Identification Gang Name Gang Name Sureno Sur Southerner Gang Number X111 13 X3 Gang Color Blue Neighborhood Names and lettering Santa East Side (1980 started in Flats, OG not that active) SES
Now Beach Flats, Live Oak, E. Side Area. Ties to La M *Beach Flats Surenos (1990) BFS
*Brown Pride Santa Cruz (Mid 1990) Chestnut St. BPSC Santa Cruz Lokas (2002 started with only 5 girls)) SCL
Typical Pre-Gang Behavior n Poor Progress or achievement in school n Truancy from school n Lack of hobbies or something to do with leisure time n Frequent negative contact with police n Problems at home n Puts tattoos on themselves (fake or real) n Residence in a neighborhood where gangs exist n Friends or Gang members are “dressing down” in gang attire n Wants to dress in traditional gang clothes (i.e. baggy pants, “khakis,” bandanas, dark sunglasses, gang jewelry)
WHO ARE THE YOUTH YOU WANT TO TARGET?
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Youth Needs Youth’s Needs Met by Parents Youth’s Needs Met by Gangs
Love Love
Power Power Identity Identity
Affiliation Affiliation Trust Trust
Respect Respect Honesty Honesty Friends Friends Loyalty Loyalty
Fun Fun Honor Honor Duty Duty
Responsibility Responsibility Chain of Command Chain of Command
Punishment Punishment Rewards Rewards
Rites of Passage Rites of Passage
Impact of Gang Members on Family
n Realistic Fear for their own personal safety and the safety of their family and neighborhood.
n Damage to personal property n Trauma, grief, confusion and depression over the injury or loss of a loved one
due to gang violence. n Personal injury or even death. n Financial burden to family because of lack of employment. n There is disconnect when someone is in detention
WORKING WITH PARENTS Discouraging Kids from Joining Gangs
ü Discourage your children from hanging out with gang members. ü Occupy your children’s free time ü Develop good communication with your children ü Spend time with your children ü Don’t buy or allow your children to dress in gang-style clothing ü Set limits for your children ü Develop an anti-gang environment in your home ü Learn about gang and drug activity in your community ü Participate in the education of your children ü Participate in the community
BE A GOOD EXAMPLE. BECOME AN ACTIVE, NOT A PASSIVE
PARENT.
Parent group at the game
COMMUNITY SUPPORT n Youth Centers n Community Programs n Sports n Mentors n School Involvement n Religion n Clubs n Businesses
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THE START OF THE AZTECAS Homeboy List Love Identity Affiliation Trust Respect Friendship Loyalty Fun Honor Duty Responsibility Punishment Rewards
HOME TEAM LIST Love Identity Affiliation Trust Respect Friendship Loyalty Fun Honor Duty Responsibility Punishment Rewards
THE SAVE n ESPN Documentary
n Opened the 2011 Women’s World Cup
n ONLY 6 women picked from around the world
Play movie
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AZTECAS PROVIDES
n Provides the “Home Team List” n Mentors n Play on the same soccer team with rival
gang members n A positive pro-social experience n Learn Life Skills
AZTECAS PROVIDES LIFE SKILLS
n Self-esteem n Conflict resolution n Anger management n Self-confidence n Discipline n Responsibility n Sportsmanship n Leadership n Family engagement n Soccer skills the passion
of the game
THE IMPACT OF THE AZTECAS ON FAMILY MEMBERS
n Family interaction n Positive affirmations n A support group n Families are there to support all youth n Youth & parents get to know one another as
people and not gang members/rival gang members
n Take ownership n Fundraise
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AZTECAS YOUTH 21% decrease in incarceration
25% decrease in recidivism and probation violations
55% of our youth are on track to graduation
98% of the boys demonstrate a willingness to shake hands with opposing teams players & opposing gang members
98% show signs of increased self-esteem
RESULTS
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What Works
Continual education
of themselves
Faith
Mentor How they
ID themselves
Job
Physical outlet
Hobbies
Person
Our Systems
n Police jurisdictions and arrests n Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall
n RAI n Girls vs. boys
n Santa Cruz County Probation n Alternative to detention n Evening Center n Assessments n DMC n VOP Grid n Incentives
Our System
n Santa Cruz County Probation n Wraparound n PSC n Aztecas n BASTA
n Court System n The Process n The players
Contact information
Gina Castaneda Deputy Probation Officer
Santa Cruz County (831)763-8018
prb202@co.santa-cruz.ca.us