pimping

Whether we choose to believe it or not there are pimps out there, and the ones being pimped out. Some of those that are being pimped out are of age, others aren't. Some girls, for whatever reason, choose to be pimped out. And others simply fall into that life style. Some girls believe their pimp loves them, but truth be told these women are being chased merely for sex and then the fact that they exist is ignored until the next "John" comes along. Recently in Fairfield a mother pimps out her daughter and then they stole his wallet and attempted to avoid the police. They claim she was sexually assaulted and they took his wallet merely to identify him. But I believe that that is a complete lie. But most women are in this line of "work" for what they believe to be love, security, attention, and possibly even money. I believe these women should be helped and not exploited any longer or even looked down upon.

For more information on the Fairfield case you can visit: http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/fairfield_cty/police%3A-mom-pimps-out-daughter

gangs and violence

We are all up in arms about terrorism, the wars overseas. But what about the wars here at home, our gangs? Does anyone notice them anymore? You can be in a suburban town or an urban city to be considered "in a gang." It starts right in our homes and with our children. If the children are in "broken homes" or have close family/friends that are in gangs I firmly believe that the likelihood of one joining a gang is higher. We can't expect to "fix" our culture or "fix" the gang problem(s) if we don't "fix" ourselves as a whole and as a nation first. There are a few very “famous” gangs: The KKK, the bloods, the crips, and the Latin kings. A lot of factors and precursors are usually present, in my eyes, for one (adult, adolescent, or child) to turn to drugs, alcohol, violence, and/or gangs. Obviously if one has a family history of these, there may be an elevated risk, and obviously there is if one has a personal track record of violence, gang activity, drugs, alcohol, etc. One website I found shows there may be multiple factors attributing to gangs/gang violence/violence/drug & alcohol use/etc.
Some of these statistics include:

"Underlying & Contributing Factors - Violence

Being Abused or Neglected as a Child
Likelihood of arrest as a juvenile -- up 53%
Likelihood of arrest as an adult -- up 38%
Likelihood of arrest for a violent crime -- up 38%

Nationwide, alcohol is a contributing factor in 80% of homicides.

A gun in the home is 43 times more likely to be used to kill a family member or friend
or to commit suicide than to defend oneself

Underlying & Contributing Factors - Child Abuse

Risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect are
Family poverty
Family stress
Single parent family
Drug or alcohol use by one or more family members
Parental history of abuse or neglect
Unemployment
Poor education
Family isolation

Risk factors associated with child sexual abuse:
Poor parent-child relationships
Poor relationships between parents
Absence of a protective parent
Presence of a non-biologically related male in the home.

It is estimated that 9 - 10 million children under the age of 18 are directly affected by substance-abusing parents.

In 1995, in 15 states reporting information, 40% of child abuse cases involved substance abuse.-

Adults who mistreat their own children, and those who are perpetrators or victims of spousal abuse, were often themselves victims or abuse.

Youth Gang Survey Statistics - 1997

Juristictions Reporting Youth Gangs by Area Type
72% -- Large City
33% -- Small City
56% -- Suburban Cnty
24% -- Rural Cnty
51% -- Overall

Juristictions Reporting Youth Gangs by Region
74% -- West
52% -- Midwest
49% -- South
31% -- Northeast
51% -- Overall

Reported Gangs and Members
Gangs -- 18,267
Gang Members -- 655,385

Estimates to Include Areas not Responding to Survey
Gangs -- 30,533
Gang Members -- 815,896

Incarceration Statistics

Jail Population
1990 -- 1,148,702
1991 -- 1,219,014 -- + 6.1%
1992 -- 1,295,150 -- + 6.2%
1993 -- 1,369,185 -- + 5.7%
1994 -- 1,476,621 -- + 7.8%
1995 -- 1,585,589 -- + 7.4%
1996 -- 1,646,020 -- + 3.8%
1997 -- 1,744,001 -- + 6.0%
1998 -- 1,825,400 -- + 4.7%

Incarceration Rate per 100,000
1990 -- 297
1991 -- 313 -- + 5.4%
1992 -- 332 -- + 6.1%
1993 -- 359 -- + 8.1%
1994 -- 389 -- + 8.4%
1995 -- 411 -- + 5.7%
1996 -- 427 -- + 3.9%
1997 -- 444 -- + 4.0%
1998 -- 461 -- + 3.8%
1999 -- 476 -- + 3.3%
2000 -- 478 -- + 0.4%
2001 -- 470 -- - 1.7%
2002 -- 476 -- + 1.3%
2003 -- 482 -- + 1.3%
2004 -- 486 -- + 0.8%
2005 -- 491 -- + 1.0%

At midyear 2005, one in every 136 residents was incarcerated.

About 3.2% of the U.S. adult population, or 1 in every 32 adults,
was incarcerated or on probation or parole at year end 2005.

Percent of Sentenced State Inmates by Type of Offense - 1997
09% - Rape/Sexual Assault
10% - Public Order
11% - Assult/Other Violent
13% - Murder/Manslaughter
14% - Robbery
21% - Drug
22% - Property

Adult Crime Statistics

All Crime Arrests
1993-1994 -- -2.7%
1994-1995 -- -1.2% -- cum - 3.8%
1995-1996 -- -3.6% -- cum - 7.4%
1996-1997 -- -3.2% -- cum -10.6%

Violent Crime Arrests
1993-1994 -- -4.5%
1994-1995 -- -4.1% -- cum - 8.5%
1995-1996 -- -7.0% -- cum -15.5%
1996-1997 -- -4.0% -- cum -19.6%

Murder Arrests
1993-1994 -- -5.8%
1994-1995 -- -8.2% -- cum -14.0
1995-1996 -- -9.9% -- cum -23.9
1996-1997 -- -9.1% -- cum -32.1

Juvenile Crime Statistics

All Crime Arrests (includes curfew)
1993-1994 -- +10.7%
1994-1995 -- + 0.9% -- cum +11.6%
1995-1996 -- + 0.8% -- cum +12.4%
1996-1997 -- - 2.1% -- cum +10.3%

Violent Crime Arrests
1993-1994 -- +19.4%
1994-1995 -- - 5.4% -- cum +14.0%
1995-1996 -- -14.8% -- cum - 0.8%
1996-1997 -- - 5.0% -- cum - 5.8%

Murder Arrests
1993-1994 -- - 4.6%
1994-1995 -- -11.1% -- cum -15.6%
1995-1996 -- -18.6% -- cum -34.2%
1996-1997 -- -16.1% -- cum -50.4%

Mentoring-Effects on Behavior

Initiating Drug Use -- down 45.8%
Initiating Alcohol Use -- down 27.4%
Number of Times Hit Someone -- down 31.7%
Grades -- up 3%
Scholastic Competence -- up 4.3%
Skipped Class -- down 36.7%
Skipped Day of School -- down 52.2%


Why do they join?

There are different reasons for different kids.
Some are drawn by parties, girls, & drugs.
Some are looking for a sense of respect and power.
Some find a feeling of caring and attention in a gang. It becomes almost a family to them.
Some want to make money -- to help out at home or to have nice clothes, etc.
Some join for self protection because they are picked on by other gangs.
Some grow up in a neighborhood where it is almost a way of life.
Most have some real or imagined problem at home that makes them prefer the streets.
As their drug addiction grows, their problems at home become worse
because parents don't know how to cope with the addiction.

Why gangs become violent
Young people engaged in illegal activity often carry weapons for protection.
Violence takes place in retaliation for real or perceived wrongs by another gang.
Retaliation may target ANY member of a gang, not necessarily the offending individual.
Once a climate of war exists between two gangs, violence may be continual.
Once recognized as a gang member a young person is in serious danger of being hurt or killed.

How can I tell if my kid is in a gang?
If you are afraid that your kid is in a gang, he/she probably is.
It is better to try to protect a kid who doesn't need it
than to bury a kid who tried to hide the truth from his parents.

Does he/she have tattoos of something that looks like a gang name or insignia?
Does he/she have extra money sometimes and try to explain it with stories you have trouble believing?
Do you notice changes in wardrobe, attitude, and tastes in music and cars?
Does he/she collect bandanas of a paticular color and favor that color in his clothes?
Does he/she go out late at night sometimes, or not come home for several days?
Is he/she getting in a lot more fights?
Is he/she doing worse at school and "ditching" school from time to time?"

****NOTE: ALL THESE NUMBERS/FACTS/FIGURES/ETC ARE FROM THE WEBSITE http://www.gangsandkids.com/gstats.html*****