Carter F Smith

MTGMs, whether from Street Gangs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs), or Domestic Terrorist Extremist (DTE) groups, have endangered U.S. communities since before the birth of the country. Early gang leaders acquired military training before and during the Revolutionary War, and continued their criminal activity as the population transitioned westward. The earliest MTGMs included river pirates, stealing cargo and attacking passengers along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and later the street gangsters who controlled much of the criminal street business in New York, New York and some of the police and politicians of that time. Members of one DTE group started as a New York street gang, received military training and experience in Mexico during the Mexican-American War, and were released from active duty in the newly-named city of San Francisco, just before the Gold Rush of 1848. The issues of MTGMs today tend to mirror those in history, indicating that a solution to the problem is elusive, perhaps even unattainable.Survey results regarding the perception of MTGM presence in the Western United States are included, as are the results of the most recent Gang and Domestic Extremist Activity Threat Assessment (GDEATA) by the U.S. Army and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC). The connection of street gangs, OMGs, and DTEs to the military was examined, as were possible remedies for limiting the dangerousness of those criminals in the community. The note is intended to promote the awareness of the MTGM situation and encourage scholars and practitioners to conduct research concerning this issue in other locations in the United States and foreign nations towards identifying strategies to control the problem or mitigate the effects. The confluence of gangs and the military presents significant social and security challenges with significant national and global security potentials.

Publication Date: 2020

Publication Name: Small Wars Journal

Research Interests:
Military History, Military Intelligence, Organized Crime, Transnational Organized Crime, Mexican-American War, and 11 moreMilitary, American Revolutionary War, Domestic Terrorism, Gangs, Criminal Street gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Street gangs, 3 Gen gangs, Impact of Military Trained Gangs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, and OMG

Military-trained gang members, whether from Street Gangs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs), or Domestic Terrorist Extremist (DTE) groups, have endangered our communities since before the birth of the country. Early gang leaders acquired military training before and during the Revolutionary War, and continued their criminal activity in New York, New York and San Francisco, California. The earliest MTGMs included both the river pirates, stealing cargo and attacking passengers along the Mississippi River, and the street gangsters who controlled much of the street business and some of the police and politicians of that time. One such DTE group received military training and experience in Mexico during the Mexican-American War prior to release in San Francisco before the Gold Rush of 1848. This paper will survey the events both historically and recently that have contributed to the presence and dangerousness of gangs and the military. Survey results regarding the perception of MTGM presence in the Western United States are included, as are the results of the most recent Gang and Domestic Extremist Activity Threat Assessment (GDEATA) by the U.S. Army and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC). The connection of the state's current street gangs, OMCGs, and DTEs to the military will be examined, as will possible remedies for limiting the dangerousness of those criminals in the community. Excerpts from the author’s book Gangs and the Military: Gangsters, Bikers, and Terrorists with Military Training are included in this paper.

Publication Date: 2019

Publication Name: American Society of Criminology Conference

Research Interests:
Organized Crime, Gangs, Criminal Street gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Maras Gangs, and 4 moreStreet gangs, Impact of Military Trained Gangs, Prison Gangs, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Military-trained gang members (MTGMs) have received military training such as tactics, weapons, explosives, or equipment, and the use of distinctive military skills. Gangs with military-trained members often pose an ongoing and persistent military and political threat. At least one-tenth of one percent of the U.S. population is an MTGM, and there are between 150,000 and 500,000 MTGMs. That number demonstrates an alarming domestic and national security threat that includes a number of potentially significant implications for government leaders in the U.S., and in other countries where third generation (3GEN) Gangs or Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) are prevalent. The intersection of MTGMs and criminal insurgencies threatens national security and communities, undermining the economic and political foundations of local and state government. These criminal organizations often behave like insurgents, engaging in governance to support the illicit marketplace or acting in police or social roles in the community. Counterinsurgency strategies, including cultural awareness should be implemented alongside traditional anti-gang measures.

More Info: updated from original -- moving the decimal point one step to the left -- .1 percent not 1 percent.

Publication Date: 2018

Publication Name: Small Wars Journal

Research Interests:
Strategy (Military Science), Drug Trafficking, Gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Gangs and the Military, and 3 morethird generation gangs, mtgm, and gatm

In an early exploration of the evolution of group violence in its most common form, John Sullivan found the beginning indicators of Third Generation (3GEN) Gangs, which pose a significant threat to the safety, security, and future of our communities. 3GEN gangs are highly sophisticated, with goals of political power or financial acquisition. First generation gangs are those considered primarily turf gangs. Some turf gangs evolve into drug gangs or entrepreneurial organizations with a market-orientation, thus filling the second generation. Gangs in the third generation include those with a mix of political and mercenary elements who operate or are at least capable of operating in the global community.
Military-trained gang members (MTGMs) have been identified in every wartime period for the United States, and active duty MTGMs threaten the cohesiveness of military units and undermine the authority of military leadership, using the military to further their criminal organization’s goals. They are a clear threat to military discipline, bringing corrupt influences, an increase in criminal activity, and a threat to military family members on military installations.

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31603.43042

Publication Date: 2018

Publication Name: Small Wars Journal

Research Interests:
Strategy (Military Science), Military, Domestic Terrorism, Gangs, Street gangs, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Military-trained gang members (MTGMs) have been identified in every wartime period for the United States—from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts. MTGMs in the military threaten the cohesiveness of military units and undermine the authority of military leadership. They use the military to further their criminal organization's goals, whether distributing illicit drugs and weapons or recruiting like-minded service members. They are a clear threat to military discipline, bringing corrupt influences, an increase in criminal activity, and a threat to military family members on military installations. They also serve to depreciate the perceived value of the military installation in the civilian community. For communities adjacent to military installations, MTGMs add a level of dangerousness to the criminal community with their warfighter training. They also share the ability to remain undetected by law enforcement or members of the community, which allows their organization to thrive and grow unchecked. It is important to note that when we talk about military-trained gang members, we typically mean not only street gang members but also members of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) and Domestic Terrorist Extremist (DTE) groups (Smith, 2017).

Research Interests:
History, Pirates, Domestic Terrorism, Criminal Street gangs, Street gangs, and 5 moreDomestic Terrorism in U.S, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, Modern Domestic Terrorism, American Gangsters, and Outlaw motorcycle clubs

Using a sample of gang officers in Tennessee, this study identified the growing effect that stress brings to police and corrections officers and how it affects their commitment to their organizations. A survey questionnaire including demographic questions and questions regarding the respondent's stress and coping methods was administered. Many respondents reported that unproductive leadership/management styles were the most stressful. The next highest scores involved pay, fellow officers, equipment, favoritism, and recognition. The stressor subgroups were categorized as court related, public related, organizational, work related, exposure to danger, and interpersonal/personal. Respondents experienced organizational stress more than any other, followed by interpersonal/personal stress. Corrections officers generally reported more stress from their organization than police officers, and more overall stress. Officers with college degrees seemed to report more overall stress than their counterparts, particularly organizational stress. Officers with 6-15 years of experience seemed to be affected by stress the most, and female officers reported a higher score on variables related to job security. For potential for transfer or tardiness as a stress response, officers working for the state showed the highest scores. The three most widely adopted coping methods to reduce stress were exercise, recreational activity with family, and religion. A majority of officers said they would participate in activities at a fitness facility, more than half would engage with a stress management program, and about one-third would attend a family support seminar.

Research Interests:
Police, Stress, and Street gangs

Publication Date: Apr 1, 2007

Publication Name: Online Submission

Research Interests:
Information Technology, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Electronic publishing, Higher Education, and 5 moreInteraction, Professional Development, Online, Nursing Education, and Online Submission

Publication Date: 2010

Publication Name: Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention

Publication Date: 2013

Publication Name: The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Publication Date: 2010

Publication Name: Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention

Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs, whose members commit crimes, and often end up in prison. Other gangs form in prison, and their influence often extends to the streets. The presence and influence of prison gang members in the community increases the threat of violence to citizens. Research on prison gangs has been conducted regularly since the mid-1980s. At that time, a thorough survey of the U.S. prison gang climate was conducted. That research included a brief reference to the Gypsy Jokers as the first U.S. Prison gang in the Washington State Penitentiary, in 1950. No original source of that information was identified. Since then, a handful of scholars have recited the same information, sometimes identifying the 1985 work, and at other times, identifying secondary sources. The Gypsy Jokers are, and have been, a motorcycle gang, and are considered an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) by law enforcement. They have consistently identified their origin in San Francisco, CA, in 1956. They are not, nor have they ever claimed to be, a prison gang, and their first presence in Washington State was in the 1960s. This article was developed with research included in a textbook on gangs that is pending publication (Knox, Gilbertson, Etter, and Smith, 2016).

Research Interests:
Gangs, Criminal Street gangs, Prison Gangs, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs, whose members commit crimes, and often end up in prison. Other gangs form in prison, and their influence often extends to the streets. The presence and influence of prison gang members in the community increases the threat of violence to citizens. Research on prison gangs has been conducted regularly since the mid-1980s. At that time, a thorough survey of the U.S. prison gang climate was conducted. That research included a brief reference to the Gypsy Jokers as the first U.S. Prison gang in the Washington State Penitentiary, in 1950. No original source of that information was identified. Since then, a handful of scholars have recited the same information, sometimes identifying the 1985 work, and at other times, identifying secondary sources. The Gypsy Jokers are, and have been, a motorcycle gang, and are considered an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) by law enforcement. They have consistently identified their origin in San Francisco, CA, in 1956.

They are not, nor have they ever claimed to be, a prison gang, and their first presence in Washington State was in the 1960s. This article was developed with research included in a paper
submitted to the Journal of Gang Research and a textbook on gangs that is pending publication (Knox, Gilbertson, Etter, and Smith, 2016).

Research Interests:
Authorship, Textbook Research, Prisons, Research papers, Interested in Writing Research Papers, and 3 moreGangs, Prison Gangs, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs. The presence of military-trained gang members (MTGMs) in the community increases the threat of violence to citizens. The problem addressed was the growing presence of MTGMs in civilian communities in two locations. The purpose was to determine the perceived presence of MTGMs by two different groups. Gang investigators in Millington, TN and patrol officers in El Paso, TX were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the presence of MTGMs in their communities. Most respondents in both groups indicated that they had seen a recent increase in the number of military-trained personnel associated with gangs. Recommendations for policymakers included identifying gangs and related groups as Security Threat Groups (STGs) to limit the potential for the perception of racial bias in criminal gang investigations. Recommendations for military leaders included acknowledgement of the annual fluctuation in gang-related crime without arbitrarily quantifying the threat level. Recommendations for commanders included treating all drug trafficking cases as if gang members were in some way connected, whether in manufacturing or distribution. This article was developed from a paper submitted to the American Society of Criminology conference (November 2012).

Research Interests:
Organizational Behavior, Criminal Law, Military Intelligence, Youth gangs, Criminal profiling, and 3 moreStreet gangs, Gang suppression, and Gang management

The presence of military-trained gang members (MTGMs) in the community increases the threat of violence to citizens. The problem addressed was the growing presence of military-trained gang members in civilian communities in Tennessee. We examined the perceived presence of military-trained gang members of gang investigators at the annual conference and whether there had been changes since the previous survey. Many respondents reported gang members in their jurisdictions were increasingly using military-type weapons or explosives (51%), as well as military-type equipment like body armor, night-vision devices, etc. (30%). Although few (24%) agreed that gang members were using military-type tactics, a majority (over 90%) reported gang members committed home invasions and armed robberies. Many (46%) reported that there were gang members in their jurisdiction currently serving in the military, while 64% reported they had gang members who had served. Most of the respondents (66%) did not believe that military representatives advised their department when gang members were discharged from the military. More of the 2014 respondents than those in 2010 reported gang member use of military weapons, explosives, and equipment. More also reported gang members committed home invasions and armed robberies, and gang members currently in the military in their jurisdictions. Fewer thought their organization had a working relationship with military investigative authorities.

Research Interests:
Gang Culture and Dynamics, Police, Military and Politics, Youth gangs, Police and Policing, and 5 moreGangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Street gangs, Gang suppression, and Security Officers

There is often a conflict between the world of practitioners and the world of academics. After several publications and presentations, the lack of a real impact on practitioners was identified. Speaking as a subject matter expert at professional conferences and as a researching academic at others was becoming a chore, as delivery of the same information required significantly different packaging. Having found that relevant expertise led to invitations to speak at practitioner conferences and that surveys are best done in person, the process was revamped. Engagement in both professional and academic conferences provides connections with both worlds. The ability to hand out paper surveys increases the likelihood of a much higher response rate. Higher response rates yield better data and invitations to speak at practitioner conferences have a positive impact on access to research data.

Research Interests:
Information Security, International Security, Security, Youth gangs, and Academics

Gabbidon examined perceptions of students in a security administration class, asking reasons for taking the course, knowledge regarding the security field, career objectives and whether they considered working in the security field. He later asked whether their interest in working in the security field had decreased, increased or remained the same; whether their respect for the field decreased, increased or remained the same; and how they would rate the course in comparison to other criminal justice courses they had taken. This research was modified and replicated approximately 10 years later to determine differences in perceptions of security administration by contemporary criminal justice students. A small percentage (4 per cent) of the respondents reported their career objective was private security. Three in four (76 per cent) considered working in security, and most (93 per cent) reported an appreciable increase in respect for the security profession. A majority (80 per cent) rated the course as more interesting than other criminal justice courses they had taken. This article was developed from a paper presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

More Info: doi: 10.1057/sj.2013.7

Publication Date: Mar 25, 2013

Publication Name: Security Journal

Research Interests:
Information Security, Security, Security Studies, National Security, and Private Security

Individually street gangs, organized crime (OC) groups, and terrorists all present serious problems for national and international law enforcement agencies. Imagine though if these three were connected or linked in substantive ways. Whether we want to accept this or not, the lines between these structures are often blurred and ill-defined. Each of these groups often takes on the characteristics of the other group, if not in motive then in technique. Additionally, these groups sometimes form alliances with one another further complicating law enforcement efforts to combat their criminal activity. Distinguishing these groups from one another, as well as outlining areas in which they overlap will help direct law enforcement toward a more successful pursuit of these groups.

More Info: Smith, C.F., Rush, J.P., and Burton, C. E. (2013). Street Gangs, Organized Crime Groups, and Terrorists: Differentiating Criminal Organizations. Investigative Sciences Journal, 5(1), 2-19 (January 2013).

Journal Name: Investigative Sciences Journal

Publication Date: Jan 17, 2013

Publication Name: www.InvestigativeSciencesJournal.org

Research Interests:
Criminal Law, Terrorism, International Terrorism, Transnationalism, International Criminal Law, and 13 moreJuvenile Justice, Political Violence and Terrorism, Organized Crime, Crime Prevention, Transnational Crime, Drugs, Corruption, Traffic, Criminal Street gangs, International Crimes, Global Crime, Measures of Prevention, and Trafficking Human Beings

Research Interests:
Military Intelligence, Security, Police, Youth gangs, Police and Policing, and 5 moreGangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Police Officer Safety, Community Policing, Crime Prevention and Community Safety, Police Reform, and Gangs in the Military

Gang_Investigators_Perceptions_of_Military-Trained_Gang_Members_in_the_Southern_United_States2.docx

With the growing presence of criminal street gang members in the United States, communities everywhere are experiencing the damaging impact of their criminal behavior. A 2011 report by the National Gang Intelligence Center reported the number of gang members in the United States was conservatively estimated at 1.4 million. As gang members evolve, are they using our nation’s colleges and universities to educate themselves? How will that affect our communities? This article includes results of a survey of college students and campus police regarding their perception of the presence of gang members on their campus. The research question was to what extent is there a difference in individuals’ perceptions of the presence of gang members on college and university campuses by the control variable of campus role (student or campus police)? Less than one in four students thought there was a gang problem in the community around their campus, while two of three of the police thought a problem existed. Students and police agreed in similar percentages that there was a gang problem within the campus community. At least half of both students and police thought gang members were responsible for less than 10% of crime on campus. About two of three students and police reported less than 10% of the students were active gang members. The Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples were the top three gangs in the campus community for both groups. Drug crimes, assaults, assorted weapons crimes, robberies and sexual assaults were reported as crimes gang members committed on campus. The challenges to success that gang members experience in institutions of higher education may be explained by several theories, including differential integration, which posits that the explanation for failure to leave the criminal or gang lifestyle involves both limited opportunities and the attraction of a deviant subculture. The leadership of our nation’s colleges and universities must address the increase in students who affiliate with members or join criminal street gangs.

More Info: Keywords: gang activity in college, street gangs in university, percent of students having gang association, gangs in college, gangs in universities, college gangs. us universities gangs

Publication Name: Journal of Gang Research, 20(2), pp.41-52

Research Interests:
Successful High School To College Transition For Students At Risk Of Dropping Out, Gang Culture and Dynamics, Organized Crime, Police, Youth gangs, and 2 moreUniversity and Gangs

Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs. The presence of military-trained gang members (MTGMs) in the community increases the threat of violence to citizens. The problem addressed in this study was the apparently growing presence of military-trained gang members in civilian communities. The purpose of the study was to determine the perceived presence of military-trained gang members and to examine whether there was a relationship between the perceptions of gang investigators regarding the presence and the size of their jurisdictions, the proximity of their jurisdictions to a military installation, and the extent to which investigators participate in anti-gang activities. The statistical analyses used to test the hypotheses in this study were Pearson and Spearman Correlation Coefficients, independent means t tests, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression analysis. Respondents reported a mean of 11% of the gang members in their jurisdictions were MTGMs. The Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve were identified as the largest sources of MTGMs and the Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples were the gangs most represented. Recommendations included all branches of the military therein should adopt a uniform definition of gangs. Military leaders should acknowledge the increase in gang-related crime affecting the military and address the problems caused for both military and civilian communities without attempting to quantify the threat level. Military leadership should continuously examine the activities of all suspected military gang members to determine active gang affiliation for retention purposes while evaluating any gang affiliation for security clearances. Military Law Enforcement liaison for recruiters should develop effective communication with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to assist with information sharing." Keywords: articles of gangs in the army, military crime, research articles, us military training gangs, gang-related activity in the us armed forces increasing, dod strategic plan for gangs in the military, army definition of gang, army enlistment, gang activity in the us military, street gangs in the military, percent of military personnel have gang association

More Info: Co-authored with Dr. Yvonne Doll, accepted for publication in Critical Issues in Justice and Politics (Volume 5 Number 1 May 2012, ISSN 1940-3186)

Publication Name: Critical Issues in Justice and Politics. Link here http://suu.edu/hss/polscj/journal/V5N1.pdf

Research Interests:
Military History, Military Intelligence, Gang Culture and Dynamics, Youth gangs, Gangs, Crime and Violence, and Gangs in the Military

Abstract: With the growing presence of criminal street gang members in the United States, communities everywhere are experiencing the damaging impact of their criminal behavior. A 2011 report by the National Gang Intelligence Center reported the number of gang members in the United States was conservatively estimated at 1.4 million. As these gang members evolve, are they using our nation’s colleges and universities to educate themselves? How will that affect our communities? This paper reports results of a survey of college students and campus police regarding their perception of the presence of gang members on their campus. Less than one in four students agreed there was a gang problem in the community around their campus, while two of three of the police respondents agreed with the statement. Students and police agreed in similar percentages that there was a gang problem within the campus community. At least half of both students and police thought gang members were responsible for less than 10% of crime on campus. About two of three students and police reported less than 10% of the students were active gang members. The Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples were the top three gangs in the campus community for both groups. Drugs crimes, Assaults, assorted Weapons crimes, Robberies and Sexual Assaults were reported as gang-related crimes.

More Info: Keywords: gang activity in college, street gangs in university, percent of students having gang association, gangs in college, gangs in universities, college gangs. us universities gangs

Research Interests:
Criminal Justice, Education and Youth Exclusion, Sociology of Crime and Deviance, Successful High School To College Transition For Students At Risk Of Dropping Out, Gang Culture and Dynamics, and 4 morePublic Universities, Organized Crime, Crime, and Youth Gangs and Street Children, Culture, Gender and Feminisms

Gabbidon examined perceptions of criminal justice students in a security administration class, asking reasons for taking the course, knowledge regarding the security field, their career objective, and whether they considered working in the security field. He later asked whether their interest in working in the security field had decreased, increased, or remained the same, whether their respect for the field decreased, increased, or remained the same, and how they would rate the course in comparison to other criminal justice courses they had taken. This research was replicated to determine differences in perceptions of security administration by current criminal justice students.

More Info: private security, security, homeland security education, criminal justice courses, teaching security

Research Interests:
Information Security, International Security, Security, Security Studies, and Critical Security Studies

"Abstract
The U.S. military has seen an increase in crimes committed by gang members within the ranks. Authors of a recent assessment reported an increase in the investigation of gang-related incidents by military investigators in 2006 over previous years. While the presence of gang members in the military is not new, their presence has received increased attention from government leaders. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature in order to examine the prevalence of gang members with military training.

NCJ Number: 236964

Index Term(s): Juvenile gangs ; Military crime ; Gang member attitudes
Five databases were searched: ProQuest ABI/INFORM Global, Criminal Justice Periodicals, ProQuest Psychology Journals, and Sage Criminology. The keywords used included gang AND armed services OR military OR armed forces OR army OR navy OR air force. The search yielded 95 results. Abstracts and titles of each result were reviewed for relevance to the topic and none of the articles were found to meet the criteria. Beyond the above review, the author’s personal collection of gang-related literature was examined. This collection was compiled from periodic informal searches of sites that advertise books (e.g. Amazon), the Internet (for open access publications), and referrals from colleagues aware of the author’s interest in the subject since approximately 1990.The U.S. military has seen an increase in crimes committed by gang members within the ranks. Authors of a recent assessment reported an increase in the investigation of gang-related incidents by military investigators in 2006 over previous years. While the presence of gang members in the military is not new, their presence has received increased attention from government leaders. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature in order to examine the prevalence of gang members with military training.Keywords: gang activity in the us military, street gangs in the military, percent of military personnel have gang association, gangs in the military"
To cite this abstract, use the following link from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=258984"

More Info: "Published in the Journal of Gang Research (Fall 2011 - 19(1) 9-20)

Research Interests:
Military History, Military Science, Military Law, Sociology of the Military, Gang Culture and Dynamics, and 5 moreYouth gangs, Delinquency and Gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Gangs, Crime and Violence, and Gangs in the Military

Flash mobs, participants in an event in which a group of people are organized via some form of telecommunications, assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, and then disperse. A recent phenomenon synthesizes the activity of flash mobs and street gangs. Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs, and their proliferation has led to an increase in destructive crimes in the United States. A flash gang is a group that uses a social media connection to invite participants to a time and location where they commit a crime and then they split up. Local law enforcement needs to examine response policies to prepare for this new and dangerous phenomenon. Recent protests in the Middle East and North Africa were coordinated using similar strategies, spotlighting the power of using social media technology to oppose government action. The spontaneity and secrecy of the flash mob combined with the targeted crime and/or violence of the street gang produces a mix that is hard to combat even with inside intelligence. The instant access and extended reach of mobile phones and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook bring a twist that makes the spontaneous volatility even more difficult to prevent.

More Info: Keywords: flash gang, flashgang, flash gangbanging, flash mobs, flash robs, gangs, street gangs, teen mob attack, Chicago, Philadelphia, instant mob, sudden public attack, social influence, police response Flash mobs, participants in an event in which a group of people are organized via some form of telecommunications, assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, and then disperse. A recent phenomenon synthesizes the activity of flash mobs and street gangs. Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs, and their proliferation has led to an increase in destructive crimes in the United States. A flash gang is a group that uses a social media connection to invite participants to a time and location where they commit a crime and then they split up. Local law enforcement needs to examine response policies to prepare for this new and dangerous phenomenon. Recent protests in the Middle East and North Africa were coordinated using similar strategies, spotlighting the power of using social media technology to oppose government action. The spontaneity and secrecy of the flash mob combined with the targeted crime and/or violence of the street gang produces a mix that is hard to combat even with inside intelligence. The instant access and extended reach of mobile phones and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook bring a twist that makes the spontaneous volatility even more difficult to prevent. The response thus far by law enforcement seems to be the monitoring of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). This may be the best and only way to know what’s going on in these instances. Of course the questions remain whether this will ultimately be constitutional and what do, how does law enforcement respond with this information that they have. Does this call for a dedicated team like a digital SWAT Team? Is the problem that police are not trained to respond to groups? Police are generally equipped to respond to individual for interaction, arrest, and prosecution, but throughout the criminal justice system there has been little training regarding organizational behavior.

Research Interests:
Organizational Behavior, Gang Culture and Dynamics, Group Theory, Group communication, Youth gangs, and 2 moreDelinquency and Gangs and Flash Mobs

There were roughly one million gang members in the United States at the end of 2008. The 2009 U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command (CID) Gang Activity Threat Assessment documented a twofold increase in felonies since the 2006 report. The percentage of gang crimes involving military persons was only .41% of the total number of felony investigations. Over 10% of gang members in civilian communities have military training. The most common gang-related crimes involved drug trafficking, with 33% of the reported felonies that year (CID). Gang-related aggravated assaults, housebreaking and larceny cases, attempted homicides, and sexual assault investigations were also reported (CID).
For access to the full article, contact The Journal of Gang Research, the Official Publication of the National Gang Crime Research Center. Journal of Gang Research Subscription Department National Gang Crime Research Center P.O. Box 990 Peotone, IL 60468-0990Or http://www.ngcrc.com/ngcrc/page2.htmKeywords: gang activity in the us military, street gangs in the military, percent of military personnel have gang association, gangs in the military"

More Info: "Published in the Journal of Gang Research (Summer 2011 - 18(4) 46-52.)

Research Interests:
Criminal Justice History, Gang Culture and Dynamics, Organized Crime, Youth gangs, Transnational Organized Crime, and Military-Trained Gang Members

Roughly 80% of all crimes were committed by members of criminal gangs, and many gang members have had military training. No prior research that addressed the effects of Military-Trained Gang Members (MTGMs) on the civilian community was identified. Using the current literature, interviews with gang investigators and MTGMs, and the practical experience of the researcher as a guide, the process of survey design was completed. The assistance of subject matter experts was used to develop and refine the survey for length, format, and scope, and the survey was developed for online distribution. Pilot data was collected. After data analysis, the MGPQ was modified and revised, resulting in the final draft of the survey for the study.
For access to the full article, contact The Journal of Gang Research, the Official Publication of the National Gang Crime Research Center. Journal of Gang Research Subscription Department National Gang Crime Research Center P.O. Box 990 Peotone, IL 60468-0990Or http://www.ngcrc.com/ngcrc/page2.htmKeywords: gang activity in the us military, street gangs in the military, percent of military personnel have gang association, gangs in the military, gang-related activity in the us armed forces increasing"

More Info: "Published in the Journal of Gang Research (Summer 2011 - 18(4) 1-17)

Research Interests:
Criminal Justice, Political Science, Gang Culture and Dynamics, Organized Crime, Youth gangs, and 4 moreTransnational Organized Crime, Crime, Military-Trained Gang Members, and Gangs in the Military

In today’s challenging economy, career decisions for
many have changed from the most desirable to the
most dependable to the most available. Though the
starting pay may not be as high as other careers,
positions in corrections offer challenges and opportunities
not found in other fields. Today’s college graduates
are likely to look to corrections as they explore

Research Interests:
Higher Education, Corrections, and Community Corrections

Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs. Gang activity in the form of crime and violence has had a devastating effect on the lives of citizens and the safety of our communities. The presence of military-trained gang members (MTGMs) in the community increases the threat of violence to citizens. The problem addressed in this quantitative correlational research study was the apparently growing presence of military-trained gang members in civilian communities. The purpose of the study was to more closely examine the nexus between the perceived presence of military-trained gang members and the perceptions of gang investigators regarding the presence and the size of their jurisdictions, the proximity of their jurisdictions to a military installation, and the extent to which investigators participate in anti-gang activities. An online survey, the Military Gang Perception Questionnaire (MGPQ), was created to collect responses from the 260 active members of the Tennessee Gang Investigators Association (TNGIA). The electronic distribution of the survey was facilitated by Google Documents. A sample size calculation was computed for a multiple regression analysis involving seven predictors, a significance level of .05, a power of 80%, and a medium effect size (f 2 =0.15). That power analysis indicated that N =103 was sufficient to detect this size of effect. The statistical analyses used to test the hypotheses in this study were Pearson and Spearman Correlation Coefficients, independent means t tests, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression analysis. Many of the 119 respondents felt anti-gang prohibitions would limit the activity of MTGMs. Respondents reported a mean of 11% of the gang members in their jurisdictions were MTGMs. The Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve were identified as the largest sources of MTGMs and the Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples were the gangs most represented. There was a statistically significant positive correlation (?=.24, p <.05) between MTGM presence percent score and jurisdiction size. There was also a statistically significant positive correlation (?=.28, p <.05) between MTGM presence percent score and the distance from the nearest military installation (computed). Recommendations included that military leadership should conduct cumulative tracking and analysis of gang threats, and apply an all-hands approach to identifying gang members in the military. When an installation shows a decrease in gang-related activity, solutions that led to the decrease should be identified. Military leadership should identify and examine all suspected military gang members and policy makers should identify gangs and related groups as Security Threat Groups.
School Location: United States -- Arizona
Keyword(s): Gangs, Street gangs, Military, Armed forces, Gang members, Military-trained Source: DAI-A 72/02, Aug 2011 Source type: Dissertation Subjects: Criminology, Public policy, Military studies Publication Number: AAT 3437991 ISBN: 9781124391373 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?did=2242475201&Fmt=7&clientI d=79356&RQT=309&VName=PQDProQuest document ID: 2242475201"

More Info: "Published Dissertation.Advisor: House, JohnSchool: Northcentral University

Research Interests:
Criminal Justice, Political Science, Nationalism, Ethnicity, Jakarta, and 8 moreCrime, Police and Policing, International Gangs, Gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Gangs in the Military, Gangsters, and Rackets

"Although gang members constitute only a fraction of military
personnel worldwide, they are a significant problem for the
military and communities surrounding military bases. Since the
early 1990s, the Armed Forces have taken steps to try to gain
control the gang problem. The Secretary of the Army’s Task
Force on Extremist Activities conducted an investigation in 1996
and found extremist and gang activity in the Army was causing
significant security concerns for many soldiers (U.S. Department
of Defense, 1996)."
Keywords: gang activity in the us military, street gangs in the military, percent of military personnel have gang association, gangs in the military, gang-related activity in the us armed forces increasing"

More Info: "Was also at http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs_in_the_military.html

Research Interests:
Criminal Justice, Political Science, Nationalism, Ethnicity, Jakarta, and 6 moreCrime, International Gangs, Gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Gangsters, and Rackets

The purpose of this paper was to examine the benefits of supplementing the classroom environment with available technology to engage students both within and outside the classroom. The blended-learning model was the primary context for examination, though both strictly face-to-face and online teaching will benefit from the methods discussed. A review of the literature and contemporary teaching methods provided the foundation. There were indications that the use of engaging and interesting teaching methods provided a learning environment that encouraged student interest in the material and supported student retention. Faculty members will need to independently access the tools mentioned in this paper and independently evaluate their potential.

Research Interests:
Learning and Teaching, Online Learning, and Online Education

The Web is steadily becoming a utility of the masses. We have become familiar with using the Web for communicating, surfing, shopping, receiving information in different forms, and a host of other usage attributes--both personal and professional.

The Web economy has largely been fed by advertisers vying for eyeballs and attention. Advertisers have been a fundamental resource of the Web economy. When a change occurs that alters the old models and creates improved models with a promise of higher returns, then changes are likely to create systemic shifts across the entire Web that influence the system from end to end.

Innovation inevitably spawns further innovation throughout the supply chain of interconnected elements that fuel Web usage patterns, and the social Web facilitates systemic changes which are fueled through such innovation. The social Web brings more influential human elements with global reach than any previous technological development in the history of the Web. Combine the influence of the human elements with the economic power of relationship driven commerce and you have a scenario that will create further changes unforeseen, unpredictable, and unimaginable.

These changes are profound and create historical shifts that open opportunities for those who prepare and embrace the factors that enable a successful transition from the old economy to the new.

Research Interests:
Public Administration, Education, Online Communities, Learning and Teaching, Police, and 8 moreSocial Media, Digital Identity, Technology-enhanced Learning, PLE, Web 2.0 tools, Social Media and Collaborative Technologies, Networked and Social Learning, and Public Policy

Talks

Event Date: Nov 20, 2013

Organization: ASIS International -- Middle Tennessee

Research Interests:
Private Security

Technology advances have changed the way the average American communicates, plans his or her day, shops, drives, and does many other things. Technology has changed the way criminals, specifically gang members, live their lives as well. As gangs evolve, many adopt more of a business model. How does that affect the way law enforcement should investigate them?
You will get an overview of criminal communications options, actions, and interactions followed by a discussion of how law enforcement – mostly gang cops – can and do respond. Ideas on how to engage, assist, or even thwart the detection of such activity will be provided. The use of metaphors to explain how technology functions often helps the not-so-literate grasp the concepts we will discuss – an impromptu brainstorming session on how that works will likely occur.

Time: 6 PM to 7 PM

Location: Nashville, TN

Event Date: Oct 26, 2012

Organization: SkyDogCon Technology Conference

Research Interests:
Globalization, Cybercrimes, Organized Crime, Drugs and Crime, Cybercrime, Youth Gangs and Street Children, Culture, Gender and Feminisms, Information Technology and Security, and 5 more3rd Generation Street gangs, Research in Technology, Technology and it's Advancements, Cyber Crime and Technological Advancements, and Improvements to Globalization with IT Security and Reformation

An initial look at an alternative to internships that seeks to provide experience producing reports, networking opportunities, and exposure to the professions studied. This initiative was launched in response to new information regarding DHS employee education preparation, an increased interest in teaching to increase critical and creative thinking, and a limit on available internships. Students engage in individually-graded group assignments, submit and resubmit reviewed work, and selected reports and summaries are identified as able to be submitted to official agencies and organizations.

Event Date: Sep 28, 2012

Organization: Southern Criminal Justice Assoc. 2012

Research Interests:
Service Learning, Experiential Learning (Active Learning), Internships (Active Learning), Employment, and Service Learning in Higher Education

An overview of Domestic Terrorism in the eleven countries having high potential of becoming (with Brazil, Russia, India, and China) the world's largest economies in the coming century. The N-11 were identified by Economists for their macroeconomic stability, political maturity, openness of trade and investment policies, and quality of education. How do those factors affect their propensity for domestic terrorism problems?

Event Date: Sep 27, 2012

Organization: Southern Criminal Justice Assoc. 2012

Research Interests:
Egyptology, Economics, Political Economy, Governmentality, State crime, and 16 moreSouth Korea, Central America and Mexico, Pakistan, Organized Crime, Indonesia, Biopolitics, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Modern Turkey, Nigeria, Phillipines, Korea (North and/or South), Iran, Global Capitalism, Drug Trafficking, and Domestic Terrorism

The identification process for Domestic Extremists requires considering many indicators. Recently released research indicates examining the mix of behavioral indicators such as personal connections, ideology, travel, and training may prove beneficial in determining the existence of an individual’s extremist views. The presentation suggests using these indicators not as a checklist but as a type of scale to help analysts determine priorities for research and investigation as resources become available.

Event Date: Sep 27, 2012

Organization: Southern Criminal Justice Assoc. 2012

Research Interests:
Terrorism, Conflict, Political Violence and Terrorism, Early Warning, Indicators, and Domestic Terrorism

Location: 2012 National Gang Crime Research Center - Gang College, Chicago, IL

Conference Start Date: Jul 25, 2012

Research Interests:
Youth gangs, Criminal Street gangs, and Expert Witness

Location: 2012 National Gang Crime Research Center - Gang College, Chicago, IL

Conference Start Date: Jul 25, 2012

Research Interests:
Information Technology, Technology, Organized Crime, Youth gangs, and Gangs

Location: 2012 National Gang Crime Research Center - Gang College, Chicago, IL

Conference Start Date: Jul 24, 2012

Research Interests:
Technology, Globalization, Youth gangs, Criminal Street gangs, Information Technology and Security, and 4 moreResearch in Technology, Technology and it's Advancements, Cyber Crime and Technological Advancements, and Improvements to Globalization with IT Security and Reformation

Location: 2012 National Gang Crime Research Center - Gang College, Chicago, IL

Conference Start Date: Jul 24, 2012

Research Interests:
Organized Crime and Corrections

Location: 2012 National Gang Crime Research Center - Gang College, Chicago, IL

Conference Start Date: Jul 23, 2012

Research Interests:
Police, Youth gangs, Criminal prosecution, Gangs, and Public Policy

Location: 2012 National Gang Crime Research Center - Gang College, Chicago, IL

Conference Start Date: Jul 23, 2012

Research Interests:
Military Intelligence, Organized Crime, Gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, and Gangs in the Military

Satellite and internet broadcast panel discussion hosted by the Tennessee Center for Child Welfare (TCCW). The panel will be addressing “Gangs in Child Welfare” on May 18, 2012. Available at the TCCW web site - http://video.tccw.org/video/gangs-child-welfare

•Overview and History of Gangs

•Meaning/Defining gangs

•Street gangs mentioned by Chaucer (1390) and Shakespeare (1602)
–little known of the members
•Generally accepted criteria for identifying groups as gangs:
–Three or more members.
–Members share group identity and other symbols.
–Members view themselves as a gang, and they are recognized by others as a gang.
–Permanence and organization.
–Criminal activity.

•Gang Formation

•Individual needs
–physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem
•Individual responses
–To pressure/Strain
•Community needs
–Security/Economy
•Community responses
–Support/Conceal crime
–Hire/direct Law Enforcement

•Economic association

•Traditional gang organization not unlike traditional business organization
–Fills a void
–Serves community
–Depended upon
•Gangs engage in legitimate business activity.
–Startup funding from ill-gotten gains
–Often use legitimate business to launder money
–Nonetheless, gang businesses serve community

Event Date: May 18, 2012

The presentation will summarize some of the well-known issues with youth gang members, address challenges to the community when gang members stay in the gang into adulthood, examine some of the challenges with advanced, adult gang... more

Location: The presentation will summarize some of the well-known issues with youth gang members, address challenges to the community when gang members stay in the gang into adulthood, examine some of the challenges with advanced, adult gang members, and recommend some community responses.

Event Date: Jun 13, 2013

Organization: Tennessee Alliance for Children and Families

Research Interests:
Youth gangs

Carter F. Smith . . . said it's not surprising that enhanced penalties for gang members have been used sparingly in Tennessee.

Politicians often propose stricter penalties for gun crimes, gang offenses and hate crimes. The laws might sound good to the public, but in reality, the statutes are rarely used by prosecutors, Smith said.

"Most enhancement penalties are political responses to an outcry from the public," Smith said. "They are a huge waste of time."

Smith said law enforcement could use existing conspiracy laws to crack down on gang activity, noting that the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was one of the few successful examples of enhancement penalties.

The federal law commonly referred to as RICO provides stiffer penalties for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

Event Date: Nov 22, 2011

Contemporary gangs have been strategically infiltrating military communities around the world since the late 1980's. When gang members are allowed to join the military, they are treated just like other service members – no debriefings, no watch list, and no warnings to local military law enforcement. Is “Don’t Ask / Don’t Tell” the right policy for gangs in the military? How can we ensure gang members are not able to use military urban warfare tactics on our city streets?

This session will provide an overview of the issues associated with the enlistment of past and present gang members in the U.S. Armed Forces and provide recommendations for local, state and federal law enforcement and communities. We will examine the myths and truths associated with dual (gang and military) service, and discuss recommendations for the communities where these individuals go after they are discharged.

Organization: Gang Crime Investigation Skills; Domestic Counter Terrorism Skills; Gang Interview/Interrogation Skills; Gang Prosecution; Officer Safety Skills in Dealing With Gangs; Hate Group/White Racist Extremist Gangs; Management and Supervision Skills for Gang Specialists; Gangs in The Military.

Research Interests:
Military-Trained Gang Members and Gangs in the Military

The younger generation in our country cannot remember life without cell phones, CD’s or an email address, and many don’t even use CD’s and email anymore. Many gang members are a part of this generation. Do we know how they communicate? As gangs evolve, they take on more of a business model than they had when they started. How does this affect the way we should investigate them? Do we include the right information on our search warrants? Do we know what our crime labs are capable of finding? In this session, we will review the past, examine the present, and look into the future to see how gangs make contact with each other, what they can talk about without us knowing, and why we need to know how to intercept or at least discover what was said after the fact.

Organization: Gang Crime Investigation Skills; Domestic Counter-Terrorism Skills; Gangs and Drugs; Gang Prosecution; Corrections Gang/STG Intelligence; Dealing With Gangs in Juvenile Correctional Facilities; Dealing With Gang Members in Probation/Parole; Gang Internet Investigation Skills.

The MSTA has been identified on the top three list of Islamic gangs/STGs operating in the USA. Most police encounter them as a gang, but some of their operations have all the earmarks of organized rime. Most in corrections regard them as a local security threat group, but they have been evolving into a national organization. Most in academia regard them as a cult or deviant spiritual group, but their “MSTA university” sells college courses to their prison inmate members today. Come and learn about the MSTA and how it operates in your jurisdiction.

Organization: Gang Profile Analysis; Gangs and Organized Crime; Gang Crime Investigation Skills; Corrections Gang/STG Intelligence; Dealing With Gangs in Juvenile Correctional Facilities.

In this session, you will learn the mechanics of how to become an expert witness in gang crime investigation cases. You will learn how to provide an expert opinion on matters such as gang identification, the relevance of gang threats, gang motivation, gang rivalries, and gang trends. You will learn a number of important “do’s” and “don’ts” about expertise from the prosecution perspective, and will see some of the strategies of defense. Whether in court or not, there are many ways to strengthen your credibility and expertise – this session may be the first step in that direction.

Organization: Gang Crime Investigation Skills; Gangs and Drugs; Gang Prosecution; Corrections Gang/STG Intelligence; Gang Internet Investigation Skills; Motorcycle Gangs; Gang Homicide Investigation Skills; Management Skills for Gang Outreach, Prevention, and Intervention Services.

With the growing presence of criminal street gang members in the United States, communities everywhere are experiencing the damaging impact of their criminal behavior. More than one third of the jurisdictions included in the National Youth Gang Survey (NYGS) experienced gang problems in 2007, the highest number since before 2000. A 2009 report by the National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC) reported the number of gang members in the United States was conservatively estimated at 1,000,000 as of September 2008. Adult gang members represent approximately one of every three gang members, indicating that gangs are evolving into more of an organized crime group as they engage a person’s life past their youth. As these gangs evolve, are they using our nation’s colleges and universities to educate their ranks? This session will examine indicators of problems to come in higher education.

Organization: Gang Crime Investigation Skills; Domestic Counter-Terrorism Skills; Gangs and Drugs; Gang Prosecution; Corrections Gang/STG Intelligence; Dealing With Gang Members in Probation/Parole; Gang Internet Investigation Skills

This session will include an overview of current gang laws and anti-gang activities, including formal anti-gang teams, sections, and task forces, injunctions, and restrictive ordinances. A sampling of activities that can be considered “gang-related” will be discussed. Prosecution strategies will also be examined and evaluated, with the intent of identifying a blueprint for successful prosecution.

Organization: Gang Crime Investigation Skills; Domestic Counter-Terrorism Skills; Gangs and Drugs; Gang Prosecution; Corrections Gang/STG Intelligence; Dealing With Gang Members in Probation/Parole; Gang Internet Investigation Skills

With the growing presence of criminal street gang members in the United States, communities everywhere are experiencing the damaging impact of their criminal behavior. A 2011 report by the National Gang Intelligence Center reported the number of gang members in the United States was conservatively estimated at 1.4 million. As these gang members evolve, are they using our nation’s colleges and universities to educate themselves? How will that affect our communities? This paper reports results of a survey of college students and campus police regarding their perception of the presence of gang members on their campus. Less than one in four students agreed there was a gang problem in the community around their campus, while two of three of the police respondents agreed with the statement. Students and police agreed in similar percentages that there was a gang problem within the campus community. At least half of both students and police thought gang members were responsible for less than 10% of crime on campus. About two of three students and police reported less than 10% of the students were active gang members. The Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples were the top three gangs in the campus community for both groups. Drugs crimes, Assaults, assorted Weapons crimes, Robberies and Sexual Assaults were reported as gang-related crimes.

Keywords: gang activity in college, street gangs in university, percent of students having gang association, gangs in college, gangs in universities, college gangs.

Location: Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) conference, New York, NY

More Info: This preliminary study examined the perceptions of a small population of police and students affiliated with a large public university. Though clearly not a representative sample, it is hoped that this study can add to the foundation of literature in this area. Future studies should explore perceptions of students, staff, and faculty at colleges and universities of all sizes, especially those outside the criminal justice field and discipline. Coordination with local law enforcement would provide a more complete evaluation of campus gang problems. Look under papers for the completed article. http://apsu.academia.edu/CarterSmith/Papers/1519995/Gang_member_undergrads_What_are_gang_members_doing_in_our_colleges_and_universities

Organization: Other Policing Issues (Police) OR Delinquents, Status Offenders, and Gangs (Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice)

Conference End Date: Mar 16, 2012

Conference Start Date: Mar 13, 2012

Location: Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) conference, New York, NY

More Info: http://apsu.academia.edu/CarterSmith/Papers/1521445/Security_Administration_in_the_classroom_More_challenging_when_its_not_as_sexy_as_policing

Organization: Issues in Security and Private Policing (Security and Crime Prevention)

Conference End Date: Mar 16, 2012

Conference Start Date: Mar 13, 2012

This session was designed to provide a why-to session for faculty to exhibit why someone would want to make use of social media in teaching hybrid or online classes. It provided a show-and-tell about courses taught and in particular how social media can be used to help achieve teaching goals, why to choose to do this in teaching with technology, and how the students react to use of the tech tools.

Time: 1 PM to 2 PM

Organization: Roundtable for APSU faculty leadership program [invited presenter].

Flash Gangs, where gang activity appears in an instant.Flash Mob + Gang activity = Flash gangbanging
"Flash mobs," where adults come together for goofy plans, areorganized on the Web and by cellphone — spreading the word withchat rooms, text messaging and e- mail.
Flash gangA group of people who set a time with there (sic) cell phones tomeet at a certain place and time to do gang stuff and are just as quickly gone in all directions. by The wrath of God Sep 26, 2010 www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph p?term=Flash%20gang (cached)
Flash Gang: a social media connection such as Twitter isused to invite participants to a time and location, they do something like robbery or assault, and they split up. George Knox, NGCRC, June 15, 2011

Location: Southern Criminal Justice Association 2011

Event Date: Sep 23, 2011

For a paper written in follow up to this presentation, visiti http://www.academia.edu/2425455/Street_Gangs_Organized_Crime_Groups_and_Terrorists_Differentiating_Criminal_Organizations

"Street Gangs Gang members vary in age. Some communities have had significant number of adult gang members. NYGC researchers have shown progressive increase in adult gang members for almost every year since 1996.
Organization of gangs can be determined by levels of membership and leadership, holding of regular meetings, existence of written rules, and involvement in or relationships with owners of legitimate businesses.
Gangs have been treated as organized crime groups by law enforcement professionals, media sources, and some government agencies
Organized Crime Groups
The business of organized crime involves the violation of numerous laws.
The traditional evolution of traditional organized crime groups shows that almost all of them began as a street gang.
Given this apparently natural transition from street gang to organized crime group, it seems fair to suggest that we should be able to identify where street gangs fall on a continuum
Terrorism
As opposed to organized crime, terrorism is political, and is considered relative to one’s political views
Individual terrorists are often unemployed, socially alienated individuals who have dropped out of society and joined a terrorist group out of boredom or a desire to pursue a cause they regard as just or a desire to use special skills
boundaries of the new terrorist networks are very loose, and anyone who wishes to become a terrorist can become one with Internet access "

More Info: Carter F. Smith & Jeffrey P. Rush,Austin Peay State University

Event Date: Sep 22, 2011

Research Interests:
Youth gangs and Nashville

Event Date: May 2009

Research Interests:
Youth gangs, Nashville, and Gangs

The Problem
1 Million gang members in U.S.
80% of all crimes committed by gang members.
Progressive increase in adult gang members since 1996 (then 50-50).
It’s important because
All gang members in the military return to civilian communities . . . eventually.
Crimes by MTGMs up yearly since 2002.
MTGMs teach tactics to local gang members.
MTGMs commit murder, racketeering, drug distribution.

More Info: Carter F. Smith (615) 656-3505 smithcf@apsu.edu

Event Date: Sep 22, 2011

Event Date: Oct 11, 2007

Research Interests:
Military History, Youth gangs, Street gangs, and Gangs in the Military

Conference Presentations

Military-trained gang members have been present since the birth of the United States. In the Northeast U.S., the gangs in early New York quickly acquired military training during the Revolutionary War, and continued their criminal activity in New York and places as far away as San Francisco, CA. Those early military-trained gang members included both the river pirates, stealing cargo and attacking passengers in both in New York City and along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and land pirates who robbed and attacked travelers on their return trips home. The role of Pennsylvania was crucial to the growth of MTGMs, both as an early home to the emerging Nation's capitol, and as a host to Port

Publication Date: 2017

Publication Name: 2017 Conference. Paper - American Society of Criminology

Research Interests:
Domestic Terrorism, Gangs, Criminal Street gangs, Military-Trained Gang Members, Street gangs, and 3 moreDomestic Terrorism in U.S, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, and Gangs and the Military

In academia, we often tend to teach to the traditional graduate and undergraduate students when we are undertaking traditional academic research projects. The modern university has a wide variety of diverse students who may or may not have the opportunities to participate in traditional academic research projects. Virtual poster competitions foster opportunities for students to showcase their research and participate in academic research opportunities. By encouraging students who might not normally participate in academic research activities to participate the faculty can enhance the overall learning opportunities available for all students.

Location: New Orleans, LA

More Info: DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30156.00641

Research Interests:
Criminal Justice, Adult Education, Pedagogy, Experiential Learning (Active Learning), Adult learning, and 3 moreAcademic Poster Development & Innovation, Pracademics in Criminal Justice Education, and Modern trends in criminal justice education

Communities everywhere have experienced the negative effects of street gangs, domestic terrorists, and outlaw motorcycle gangs. The presence of these criminals increases the threat of violence to the community. When they have military training, the threat increases significantly. The problem addressed in this study was the growing presence of military-trained gang members in civilian communities. The purpose of the study was to determine the perceived presence of military-trained gang members in jails and community corrections and to examine whether there was a relationship between the perceptions of sheriff’s deputies regarding that presence and a number of variables.

Research Interests:
Criminal Justice, Strategy (Military Science), Military, Gangs, and Prison Gangs