Analysis of Street Gangs and Organized Crime in Chicago: Impact Study

This essay examines the concept of street gangs and organized crime in Chicago, highlighting the city's high crime rate and significant gang presence. It notes that Chicago's crime rate surpasses the US average, with a substantial portion of homicides linked to gang activity. The essay identifies over 70 active street gangs in Illinois, including the Vice Lords and Black Disciples, and attributes the rise in violent crimes to gang culture. Furthermore, it discusses how these gangs leverage ethnic ties to foster trust and influence recruitment, emphasizing the generational aspect of gang membership and the role of ethnic succession in gang development. The Black Disciples are presented as a key example of how organized crime operates with significant influence on various societal structures.

Running Head: CONCEPT OF STREET GANGS AND ORGANISED CRIMES IN CHICAGO
CONCEPT OF STREET GANGS AND ORGANISED CRIMES IN CHICAGO
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CONCEPT OF STREET GANGS AND ORGANISED CRIMES IN CHICAGO
Answer to question 1:
According to the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Records, Chicago’s crime rate
and violent incidents rank higher than that of the average crime rate of United States (Chambliss,
2018). Chicago alone stands responsible for such an immense increase in the homicide rates in
US. Chicago is also considered the most gang-infested city in the entire US, with a population
nearly ranging to 100,000, almost 60% of the population seems to be actively involved in this
crime (Kearney, et al. 2014). According to Chicago Visiting Fellow Bureau, Illinois is
considered as of the most dangerous states with immensely high rate of homicides, rapes,
robberies and varied other crimes. These street gangs alone accounted to more than 61% of the
homicides in Chicago. There are almost more than 70active street gangs in Illinois, like the Vice
Lords, Black Disciples, Gangster Disciples (Thrasher, 2013) and many others. Chicago’s
police department holds the gang culture highly accountable for such an increase in the rate of
homicides and varied other violent crimes in the country.
Answer to question 2:
Studies show that these gangs use ethic principle and ties to foster trusts in publics, and
passively or actively influence the mass to join these groups. These street gangs vouch on the
notion of building power and thus help individuals validate their existence by making them a
part of their clan. These gangs have existed in the land of Chicago through generations where
their forefathers have been a member and now their kids are the members the same gang. This
gang culture abide by the theory of ethnic succession, (Walker, & Zawisza, 2014) which in turn
help in the overall development of the gang group. For instance the Black Disciples, has extreme
dominance of African-American culture (Pitts, 2013) and is a crucial example of how
organized crimes take place with the high influence of these gangs on states, churches, militaries,
police forces, and corporations.

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CONCEPT OF STREET GANGS AND ORGANISED CRIMES IN CHICAGO
References:
Chambliss, W. J. (2018). Power, politics and crime. Routledge.
Kearney, M. S., Harris, B. H., Jácome, E., & Parker, L. (2014). Ten economic facts about
crime and incarceration in the United States.
Pitts, J. (2013). Reluctant gangsters: The changing face of youth crime. Willan.
Thrasher, F. M. (2013). The gang: A study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago. University of Chicago
Press.
Walker, J. T., & Zawisza, T. T. (2014). Social disorganization theory. The Encyclopedia of
Theoretical Criminology, 1-9.