The Little Village Gang Violence Reduction Project in Chicago

the reassignment of some Youth Division officers to suppress the behavior of gangs on the southside of Chicago, particularly those involved in the TWO Youth Manpower Project (see above).The gang problem required attention in other parts of Chicago. The Chicago Gang Unitrapidly expanded in size (and purpose – also investigating liberal and left-wing organizations).They comprised a headquarters, administrative and intelligence units and three major subunits inthe western, southern and northern areas of Chicago. Gangs continued to grow in size, threat,and influence in various urban centers, as did police gang units, who devised new methods toidentify, track, harass, and break up gangs in order to eliminate the problem. Gang unitsattracted tough, adventurous, pro-active officers operating in plain clothes and unmarked cars.Gang youth were considered evil and remorseless in their criminal activities, and not worthy ofcivil treatment. They were identified, photographed, and recorded in gang books. Arrests werenow based on a range of special gang-motivated or gang-related charges. Minority youth,particularly African-American and Hispanic, located in ghetto communities were especiallyprone to be labeled gang youth, subjected to increased surveillance and charged with gangoffenses. Names of youth on gang lists were not readily expunged.Klein (1995) has described the typical gang “hard” suppression activities of specializedgang police, probation, prosecution, corrections and school officers. According to Klein, theessence of gang-youth suppression has been the punishment, control and separation of gangyouth from normal criminal-justice procedures and institutional arrangements for dealing withmost youth who transgress civic norms and criminal laws.Police gang units, vertical gang prosecution, probation gang units, and school resourceofficers have developed various surveillance and information systems and special control1.18