Gang Deconstruction

IV. The War on Gangs in The U.S.
In the United States, the War on Gangs is a national movement to reduce gang-related
activity, gang violence, and gang drug involvement on the local, state, and federal level.
The War on Gangs is a multi-lateral approach, as federal agencies seek to disrupt the
cycle of violence through intervention with state police and social workers.
History
Historically, gangs surfaced in the United States as early as the 1820s, mainly in New
York. Gang activity was still considered criminal, however, when drugs were made
illegal in 1912 with the International Opium Convention, gang activity and drug
trafficking increased. The United States saw a major increase in gangs during the 1970s
and 1980s, due to population growth and the demand for drugs. In 1991, it was
estimated that there were 774,000 active gang members in the United States.
Federal Level
Although many gang
enforcement and policing
tactics are carried out on a
state-by-state basis, there are
federal programs that aim to
address the War on Gangs.
National agencies, like
the FBI, Immigration and
Customs
Enforcement (ICE), United
States Marshals Service and
the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, have enacted
programs that target gangs
and gang related activities at
the federal level.
At the federal level, the “Gangbusters Bill” of 2005, authorized increased federal
spending to support federal, state and local law enforcement efforts against gang
violence and shared intelligence and joint investigation
State Level
The criminalization of those associated with such terminology falls solely upon the state
magistrate, while the policing involves a cohesive effort by local, state, and federal
authorities. The policing tactics implemented and aimed to disrupt, deter, and eliminate
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