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Perceptions of Gang Investigators Regarding

Presence of Military-Trained Gang Members

Dissertation byCARTER F. SMITH

Submitted to Northcentral UniversityChair: John House, Ph.D.

Member: Yvonne Doll, DM Member: Joe DiRenzo III, Ph.D.

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Outline

• Introduction• Literature Review• Research Method• Findings• Implications & Recommendations• Conclusion

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Introduction• 80% of all crimes in U.S. committed by gang members

(NGIC, 2009). • Roughly one million gang members in U.S. (NGIC). • Gang members enlist as alternative to incarceration, to

recruit, obtain access to weapons, and learn to respond to hostile gunfire (NGIC).

• Assessment of presence of MTGMs in communities• Crimes committed by MTGMs increased significantly

since 2002 (CID, 2006-2009; NGIC 2009).– 265% increase from 2005 to 2006 (CID, 2006). – Twofold increase 2006 to 2009 (CID, 2009).

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Introduction• Purpose to examine perceptions of gang investigators

regarding presence of MTGMs.• Military Gang Perception Questionnaire (MGPQ) used.• Participants were 260 active members of the Tennessee Gang

Investigators Association with e-mail addresses. • May provide tangible evidence necessary to ascertain level of

perception gang investigators have of MTGMs and advanced combat tactics within their communities. – May provide support for continued research to document level of

military tactics used by gang members in other areas of the United States.

– Assist with developing training for law enforcement agencies increasing their awareness and safety when they encounter MTGMs.

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Research QuestionsTo what extent is there a statistically significant relationship between gang investigators’ perceptions of the presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions and

Research question 1. Size of jurisdictionResearch question 2. Level of participation in anti-gang

activitiesResearch question 3. Proximity of gang investigators’

jurisdiction to a military installation Research question 4. Anti-gang experience? Research question 5. AgeResearch question 6. RaceResearch question 7. Military experience

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Literature Review• Existing literature

1) traditional street gangs2) differences between juvenile and adult members of street

gangs3) advanced organized crime groups 4) MTGMs5) conflicting loyalties6) methods used to restrict non-criminal gang activity

• Members of traditional street gangs represent major variations in age, ethnicity, criminal pattern, and duration of allegiance to the gang (Klein, 1995; Thrasher, 1927).

• Many gang scholars considered street gang members to be primarily youth

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Literature Review• Military and civilian community members unaware of MTGMs

(CID, 2006; McMaster, 1994; NGIC, 2007). • Estimates of gang membership in the military mean of 21.5%. • Task Force found gang-related activities more pervasive than

extremist activities (U.S. DoD, 1996, para. 16). • 1998 follow up study

– three primary areas in need of attention - policies used by recruiters , connectivity and coordination with local law enforcement, and access to the juvenile records (Flacks & Wiskoff, 1998).

• Flacks and Wiskoff (1999) recommended Tierney’s (1998) research on gang members and military acculturation should be expanded to include non-incarcerated personnel.

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Literature Review• Increase over previous years. • Most common involved drug trafficking (CID, 2006).• Gang members in all ranks.• Murder, racketeering, and drug distribution (NGIC).• Standards for threshold evaluation:

– Up to 5% - low – 6% to 10% - medium– 11% or more - high

• Conflicting loyalties explained by differential identification (Glaser, 1956) and organizational commitment (Mowday et al., 1982).

• Restrict with formal anti-gang teams, sections, and task forces (NAGIA, 2005), injunctions (Grogger, 2005) and restrictive ordinances (Strosnider, 2002).

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Research Method• Quantitative correlational cross-sectional design • Military Gang Perception Questionnaire – Three sections• indicators to determine perceptions of respondents

regarding presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions• demographic data for organization and respondent • general written comments

– Development• sought assistance of subject matter experts

– military leaders, university professors, and gang specialists

• review cover letter & survey for face and content validity• modified and revised

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Research Method• Pilot test using online survey of Northwest

Gang Investigators Association members.• Pearson Product Moment Correlation

Coefficients, independent means t tests, and Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis.• All participants forthright and unbiased,

some experience with gang members including MTGMs, personal perceptions. • Convenience Sample.

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Research MethodLimitations. • Not every gang investigator in Tennessee. • Some less precise. Delimitations. • Time and geographic constraints. Ethical Assurances• Best interests of participants and organization. • Respondents remained anonymous, data remained

confidential. – Participation voluntary, no deception and nothing purposely

withheld.

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Findings

• Population - 260 members of TNGIA• Final sample N = 119 participants• Majority local police • Majority no working relationship with

military investigators • Most Caucasian• Minority served in military

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To what extent is there a statistically significant relationship between gang investigators’ perceptions of

the presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions and

Research question 1. Size of jurisdiction• Alternate hypothesis 1 accepted - statistically

significant positive relationship between perceptions and size of jurisdictions.

Research question 2. Level of participation in anti-gang activities

• Null hypothesis 2 accepted - no statistically significant relationship between perceptions and level of participation in anti-gang activities.

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To what extent is there a statistically significant relationship between gang investigators’ perceptions of

the presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions and

Research question 3. Proximity of gang investigators’ jurisdiction to military installation

• Alternative hypothesis 3 accepted - statistically significant positive relationship between perceptions and proximity to military installation.

Research question 4. Anti-gang experience• Null 4 accepted - no statistically significant

relationship between perceptions and anti-gang experience

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To what extent is there a statistically significant relationship between gang investigators’ perceptions of

the presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions and

Research question 5. Age• Null 5 accepted - no statistically significant

relationship between perceptions and ageResearch question 6. Race• Null hypothesis 6 accepted - no statistically

significant difference in perceptions by raceResearch question 7. Military experience• Null hypothesis 7 accepted - no statistically

significant difference in perceptions by military experience

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Evaluation of FindingsResearch question 1. Size of jurisdiction• Alternate hypothesis 1 accepted - positive relationship between

perceptions and size of jurisdictions.• Larger jurisdictions appropriate locations in which MTGMs find

other gang members with whom to associate. Research question 2. Level of participation in anti-gang activities• Null hypothesis 2 accepted - no statistically significant

relationship between perceptions and level of participation in anti-gang activities

• With experience of concealing affiliation, MTGMs avoid detection.

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Evaluation of FindingsResearch question 3. Proximity of gang investigators’ jurisdiction to a

military installation• Alternative hypothesis 3 accepted - statistically significant positive

relationship between perceptions and proximity to military installation.

• Supported McMaster’s (1994) finding that many military communities have gang members.

• Separation from group with psychological attachment difficult (Mowday et al., 1982).

• Strength of relationship between gang member and gang stronger than relationship between gang member and employer (Knox, 2006).

Research question 4. Anti-gang experience• Null 4 accepted - no statistically significant relationship between

perceptions and anti-gang experience

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Evaluation of Findings

Research question 5. Age• Null 5 accepted - no statistically significant

relationship between perceptions and ageResearch question 6. Race• Null hypothesis 6 accepted - no statistically significant

difference in perceptions by raceResearch question 7. Military experience• Null hypothesis 7 accepted - no statistically significant

difference in perceptions by military experience

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Implications & Recommendations• Alternate hypothesis 1 accepted - relationship between

perceptions and size of jurisdictions.– Implication that gang investigators in large jurisdictions

more likely to perceive MTGMs.• Null hypothesis 2 accepted - no relationship between

perceptions and level of participation in anti-gang activities.– Implication that extensive anti-gang experience not needed

to identify MTGMs. • Alternative hypothesis 3 accepted - relationship between

perceptions and proximity to military installation. – Implication that jurisdictions in close proximity to military

installations more likely to contain MTGMs.

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Implications & Recommendations• Null 4 accepted - no relationship between

perceptions and anti-gang experience• Null 5 accepted - no relationship between

perceptions and age• Null hypothesis 6 accepted - no difference in

perceptions by race• Null hypothesis 7 accepted - no difference in

perceptions by military experience

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Recommendations• Recommendations for government leaders – Compliance with Congressional instruction, uniform definition,

STG• Recommendations for military commanders– Acknowledge and address increase, tracking and analysis, all-

hands approach, evaluate for retention and security classification

• Recommendations for law enforcement– Use law enforcement to coordinate with recruiting, distinguish

between youth and adult gang activity, share successes• Recommendations for future research– Conduct extended longitudinal examination, broaden

population while narrowing focus

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Conclusion• Problem was presence of MTGMs in civilian communities. • Purpose was to determine perceived presence of MTGMs and examine

whether relationship between perceptions regarding presence and size of jurisdictions, proximity of jurisdictions to military installation, and extent to which investigators participate in anti-gang activities.

• Military Gang Perception Questionnaire (MGPQ) created to collect responses. • Respondents reported mean of 11% of gang members were MTGMs. • Army largest, Bloods, Crips, & Gangster Disciples most represented. • Correlation between MTGM presence percent score and jurisdiction size and

between MTGM presence percent score and distance from military base (computed).

• Recommendations included – Tracking and analysis of threats, all-hands approach. – When installation decrease in activity, solutions should be identified. – Identify and examine all suspected military gang members – identify gangs and related groups as Security Threat Groups.

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Perceptions of Gang Investigators Regarding

Presence of Military-Trained Gang Members

Dissertation byCARTER F. SMITH

Submitted to Northcentral UniversityChair: John House, Ph.D.

Member: Yvonne Doll, DM Member: Joe DiRenzo III, Ph.D.