Hillarysworld

AMHERST - When a gang member kills a member of another gang, it's not a usually over drugs or money, but about status and respect, said a University of Massachusetts sociologist.

Andrew V. Papachristos, who has been studying, writing about and working with gangs for about 15 years, had his findings published in the July issue of the American Journal of Sociology. And, he said, the problem of gang violence is a social, not police, issue and needs to be addressed in a larger context.

Papachristos, who received his doctorate from the University of Chicago, has spent time working with Chicago gangs and his research is based on findings there. While he doesn't know the gangs of Holyoke or Springfield specifically, the social structures or social networks of gangs are similar, he said.

"I think the identity of respect, turf ... are probably more important in smaller places like Holyoke."

There's a gang member code, Papachristos said, that states: "You don't want to look like a punk." Gang members want other gang members to know "I'll take care of myself," otherwise "you look weak," he said. So if one gang member kills another, there's retaliation.

Young men join gangs "basically for protection," they want "some kind of social status, that's the natural part of adolescence. They value this sort of aggression or manning up."

Gangs are generally comprised of young men socially excluded and from the same ethnic group.

But he said, gangs are not a police problem but a social problem.

"If the goal is to get rid of gangs, they're not going to go away." But if the goal is to reduce the violence, the key is "understanding what the conflicts are" - what's at the heart of the violence, Papachristos said.

When the source is identified, "then you can talk about intervention." Street or gang workers might be able to mediate the dispute before it turns violent.

He thinks the "lock them up mentality has been there so long, I think it's the easier thing to do ... to penalize and villainize gang members."

He agrees when gang members are violent they need to be incarcerated. "Police have to deal with it (violence) in a certain way."

"The best gang prevention is in utero. Gangs are one part of a bigger set of problems." And he would like to see the problem addressed as "a public health issue."

Papachristos said he thought for a time about becoming a police officer, but realized much of his time would be consumed by police-related activities. As a sociologist, he said, he spends a third of his time with students, a third with "gang bangers" and a third with cops. "I get to do all of it," he said.

Papachristos said he doesn't worry about getting shot when he's out with gangs. While there are random shootings, no one is going to shoot "the white guy." When he goes out, he finds the gang leaders or someone to vouch for him. And he's found out "they all want to tell their story."

He also said that "most people age out of crime." Most gang members are between 15 and 24. "Then you're done." But it's difficult for felons who after prison don't have a lot of options. They often can't find work or join the military unless they receive a waiver.

As for gang portrayal in the media, he thinks "The Wire," got it right, especially the year the HBO show focused on education and the lure of gang.