Describe the issues jails face regarding gangs and how they address the problem.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Gangs present myriad management problems for jail and prison managers. Violence including robberies, assaults, drug smuggling and even murders tend to naturally follow in their wake and prevent the orderly, and safe, operation of the facility for staff and inmates. Because gangs are more prevalent in large urban areas, they are more of a problem in large urban jails. Yet, the estimates of their prevalence in large jail systems ranges from 16% to 25% depending on the location of the jail. However, these estimates are likely to be low as gang members are usually not forthcoming about their membership in a correctional. It is generally true that larger urban jails have more problems with gangs. As jails are more likely to involve a short-term period of incarceration, however, they may be less likely to hold as many gang members as prisons. In order to counter the collective influence of gangs jails will try and separate members in housing units, and placing the most disruptive members in segregation. Another tactic is to document those involved in gangs and to track them and their activities throughout the jail system.