The impacts of criminal gangs in our communities - Why gangs like Utah!

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=6951420

Dear Politicians and City, County, State Leaders,

As a very concerned citizen of the United States, I say this to all politicians including city, county as well as state leaders. I will also make this perfectly clear to school administration.

Please stop denying that we have a crime, gang, drug abuse addiction and overdose problem and other related social problems which stem from gangs and drugs.

First off, I applaud the efforts of the local law enforcement community who works with the gang problem daily here in Utah. I thank all of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Community nationwide for doing a much underappreciated difficult job. As a non law enforcement member of the Utah community; and having watched gangs spread successfully since about 1995; that in Utah and Nationwide much more needs to be done. As an independent gang researcher and community advocate, volunteer since 2005; I have documented the activity of gangs well in Salt Lake County. My photo databases and ongoing research are available to any Law Enforcement members.(register and get verified thru policelink.com or you will know how to contact me already) These gang graffiti, symbolism, and tagger graffiti documentations now number well over 800 vandalism cases. Many are the same perpetrators. With current technology it is now time to prosecute.

People may wonder why gangs are spreading in Utah, one of the best states in the U.S. The reason is very simple; we continue to provide them little resistance as law abiding citizens. Prior to Fall Quarter 2008 laws were weak, and gang members used that to their advantage. Now it becomes more important to successfully prosecute and deter their spread. Programs such as D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T should be implemented in every school at very early ages. Gangs recruit and drug abuse trends are impacting young elementary school age children now. Huffing, Rx abuse and alcohol are small parts of the dangers. Due to the sheer speed of addictions and potential for overdose, we simply must work to deter drugs in younger children. Peer pressure and teen pressure also impacts substantially how fast children are using drugs and or entering gangs or gang affiliated peer groups.

Graffiti both gang and non gang (referred to as tagger) has burdened our local communities with more than one million dollars in cleanup just in 2008, no signs of slowing down so far in 2009. The impact on individual cities will bring that financial impact up significantly more. The impact on private land owners and businesses must also be addressed.

Budgets for many law enforcement agencies in many cases continues to be poorly staffed and there is little if any funding for gang units, and needed enforcement measures. Some of the larger cities are aware and working hard to help control the problem, many smaller cities and communities are either in denial or not addressing the problem properly. Traveling across the state I have seen many cities that are basically clueless as to the presence and impact of gangs.

If we prioritized gangs in America as Domestic Terrorist we would be much better off as a society. Some would say that is way too harsh. As an independent and non paid volunteer researcher since 2005, I have watched the criminal gangs successfully move across all socioeconomic groups. This spread of gangs was occurring efficiently since the late 1980’s. All major gangs are present in Utah to varied degrees. Some exist in sleeper type groups slowly gaining new recruits and turf. There are many regional gangs as well.

Unfortunately, we as a society tend to pretend that they do not exist at all. The common misconceptions about whom and what gang members are is very prevalent. The failure to realize that many are just like us in every way, allows them to spread to what would be called affluent neighborhoods. The evolution of hip hop and street styles has also allowed the spread to go unnoticed to many. Parents are not always aware of symbolism, clothes styles, car modifications, and behaviors which are gang related. Politicians are sometimes in denial of the impact of criminal street gangs. If a problem is ignored it does not require funding.

Cars with illegal modifications commonly used by street racers and criminal gangs are also seen throughout the State. Illegal window tinting that poses a danger to law enforcement in traffic stops, as well as vehicle safety related modifications compound the impact of street gangs. These are present in such famous movies as The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift which depict these type of activities).Citing also recent deaths locally due to street racing, and related street racing traffic accidents. While yes, in many cases clothing and other impacts of culture are just normal teen experiences. Parents must be aware of the significance. Having lived and grown up in many varied neighborhoods, as well as household incomes it is obvious to me that gangs are very real and present danger. Having lived in a rollercoaster of incomes, I understand how gangs and gang, drug crime is perceived differently. How it changes to meet current trends and localities.

There is a definite criminal gang and drug related cost to society associated with illegal immigration. However, many illegal immigrants also do not contribute to the problem. Historically many illegal immigrants have been used to traffic drugs across borders, and been taken advantage of by criminal gangs due to their legal status. We must work together to understand that no matter what the immigration status is, the drug abuse, drug addiction, and serious criminal gang violence will continue if not addressed.
Gangs in Utah and the rest of the United States are extremely varied. Whatever the dominant race or ethnicity is, they tend to correlate with that. Whatever the dominant religion is the same can be typically part of the gang problem as well. (Please refer to Historychannel.com GANGLAND series).Being white living in a mostly white neighborhood most of my life, that many of the gang members usually are the same. They are typically the same as your family and your neighbors in many ways. I will not be racist or ignorant and blame crime and the gang problem on minorities or those not like me!


To Be Improved Upon List of Items:
Correct staffing levels in Public Safety specifically in specialized units such as gang task forces, narcotics officers, and adult probation and parole. The funding can be done by enforcing gang affiliation laws, illegal car modifications, and confiscation of gang and drug crime related property. (this 2010 Cadillac Escalade used to be owned by a drug dealer) D.A.R.E. vehicles.
Prosecutions: Making sure that all gang affiliated laws are utilized. This would also be done thru Holding Prosecuting Attorneys as well as Judges accountable for their actions. Mandatory documentation of gang involvement –such as tattoos, or self described affiliation cannot be overlooked.
Newly released prisoners due to high probability of relapse into gang involvement, these past offenders need better programs for substance abuse issues and getting out of gangs. (Adult Probation and Parole agent case loads are excessive, they need help!)
There should be a definite immediate further emphasis on very young age deterrence from gang and substance abuse. This would be done thru promoting programs such as D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T and comprehensive education to keep children from drug abuse and negative peer pressure.
Public Schools would be required to educate teachers and staff on local gangs, local gang attire, and find a balance in dress code enforcement. (Huge issue, gang symbolism and gang affiliated clothing cannot be allowed to go ignored) Contact local gang unit for details. Drug abuse cannot be correctly deterred without dealing with the gang presence.
Prosecuting Gang Graffiti and Tagger Crimes. Documenting and quickly covering up graffiti. Being sure to document instead of just covering up, since it is criminal evidence. Utilizing current crime scene technology and investigation tools.
Enforcing and educating the public on the need to report these crimes, and prosecute. Simplify the access to resources for home owners, businesses, and others affected by graffiti and vandalism crimes. Making sure graffiti crime victims are not victimized by paying for it to be cleaned up.
Networking the finest in Law Enforcement, public policy to further utilize R.I.C.O. and other federal statutes to take down organized crime groups. Due to the hierarchy and structure of gangs this has been difficult in the past.
Organized Crime type prosecution if the individual continues to commit crimes in the name of their clique or set (parts of gang they belong to).
Working with federal law enforcement to deter the influence of international and multi tiered levels of criminal gang and cartel activities.

The Major Improvements since 2008 Fall Quarter and Spring 2009

Gang Laws which further penalize those who recruit new gang members.
Gang laws which more clearly define who and what a gang member is. Gang laws which enhance penalties for those who continue to break the law due to gang affiliation.
Gang Laws which identify a person as a gang member instead of vague laws which prosecute individuals just as individuals.


Special Recognition:
Thank You to the Salt Lake County and Metro Gang Unit, members of local Public Safety, members of federal law enforcement. A special thank you to the Honorable John Huntsman of Utah, Salt Lake County Mayor Caroon, Salt Lake City Mayor Becker, Salt Lake City Prosecuting Atty. Sim Gill, SLCO Nancy White in graffiti abatement,. Thank you to members of the Utah State Legislature. Also the many community advocates and volunteers which have become proactive in helping to control the problem. Without your efforts in 2008, the above improvements would not have occurred.