Working With Youth Gangs Summer 2006 1 Professor Lauderdale Working With Youth Gangs The School of Social Work The University of Texas at Austin Instructor Michael Lauderdale, PhD Clara Pope Willoughby Centennial Professor of Criminal Justice in Social Work email [email protected] Room: SSW 2.116 SW F360K 96415 and SW393U3 96585 Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m. MTW&Th Office: SWB 3.113J, 471-9246 Assistant’s Office Office: SWB 3.106E, 471-5455 Resources: Email [email protected] Website https://courses.utexas.edu/ Course Objectives 1. Examine the relative incidence and history of gangs among youth and young adults 2. Examine the relations between adolescent self-development, the role of peer groups and the influence of peer culture 3. Understand approaches being used by police, prosecutors, community groups and the schools to prevent the development of gangs 4. Overview conceptual material and direct contact with community programs to work with gangs and gang prevention 5. Review current research and policy issues in dealing with gang activity in Austin 6. Examine the role of youth in gang membership and terrorism 5. Examine the structure of youth gangs and extend those concepts to formal and informal adult organizationsl. Course Texts Shelden, Randall G., Tracy, Sharon K., and Brown, William B. (2004) Youth Gangs in American Society. Belmont, California: Wadsworth. Required readings will be posted at the class web site. Additional readings as assigned. Assigned use of the Internet is a class requirement. Student Responsibilities 1. Attend class regularly. Attendance will be taken and counts toward final grade. 2. During class time, no telephones or pagers or IPod devices or reading material other than text and notes. 3. Hats and caps off during class. 4. No food or drink during class. 5. Check class Blackboard site weekly at http://courses.utexas.edu 6. Come prepared to class to participate. Instructor will ask questions about material including Blackboard postings and you will want to be prepared.Working With Youth Gangs Summer 2006 2 Professor Lauderdale Dress appropriately. We will have guest speakers that you may see in other settings and that watch what we do and who we are at the University closely. I don’t mean Armani suits for the gentlemen or a knockoff of the latest item worn by Ashlee Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Condolezza Rice, Laura Bush, etc. Set the correct standard. Clothes and general personal presentation are critical issues relative to some topics of this class. Basis for Grades and Dates of Exams and Papers Participation 25% Daily Attendance, Preparation, and Participation in class and at the web site. Class Exam 35% Thursday, June 15, 2006 Class Final 40% Friday, July 7, 2006 if enrolled for advanced credit paper will account for 20% and exam for 20%. Class Participation This class will consist of lectures, presentations from area leaders, and class exercises. Class attendance and participation is required. The instructor will moderate a discussion group for the class and members are to participate in this Web-based group. You will be expected to post an item or reply on the DISCUSSION AREA each week. Friday will be the day that the week’s discussion is due for completion. If you do not have home or work access to the web, many University facilities including at the School of Social Work are available. Paper Topics for Persons Enrolled for Graduate Credit Propose a Topic to the Professor by Thursday, June 8. History of an Austin Gang Aspects of College Life That Reflect Gang Characteristics Gang Issues in Austin Neighborhoods Middle Class Gangs Gangs in Texas Prisons Columbine as a Gang Issue Gangs and the Drug Trade in Texas Girls and Gangs Why Adolescents Become Involved in Gangs Existing Successful Programs To Prevent Gang Involvement Community Safety Programs Terrorists and Gangs Gangs and the Mexican Border Immigration, Marginalization and Gangs The Paper Required Format 1. Introduction: Why I have chosen this topic and my personal experience with gang phenomena (group membership, norms of the group, roles in the group, statusWorking With Youth Gangs Summer 2006 3 Professor Lauderdale hierarchy in the group) 2. Characteristics: of the Gang or Problem 3. Theories: What theories explain the situation? 4. Solutions: What might be done? Your paper should be typed and ten or fifteen (SW393) pages, double spaced, exclusive of the bibliography. Use 1-inch margins on the four sides and Times Roman 12 point or a near facsimile. Total number of words will be between 2,500 and 3,000 exclusive of bibliography. This means that each citation will require a two to three sentence summary of the citation. Such page limitations mean that you will need to use an economy of style in your writing and keep closely focused to the problem you have chosen. Make appropriate reference to theories but direct your narrative efforts to the Problem and how you have chosen to analyze it and develop a response. This is a style that does not use footnotes and simply enters the name of the author/s and the copyright date in the text. Full citations are at the end of the paper. Prepare your paper on a computer word processor and include an electronic version for submission. Use the American Psychological Association for paper style. For explanations of this style see http://www.utexas.edu/ssw/apss/forms/resources/apa.html References may include interviews and html sites on the World Wide Web. The paper is due at the end of the final class period (Monday, July 3, 2006). Please keep a copy of your paper, as papers will not be returned. Website Uses University’s Blackboard application. Instructor moderates website and it is restricted. Class Schedule Month Day Date Topic Readings June Thurs 1 Introduction to course, overview of text: Youth Gangs in American Society Handouts Mon 5 The Criminal Justice System In America And Its Response To Gangs Shelden, et al: Chapter 1, Tues 6 Gang Properties And Characteristics: Who Belongs To Gangs, What Function Do They Serve For Individuals, How Are They Alike And Different From Other Youth Associations Shelden, et al: Chapter 2 Wed 7 History Of Youth Gangs Shelden, et al: Chapter 3 Thurs 8 Gang Cultures And Criminal Activities Shelden, et al:: Chapter 4 Mon 12 Girls and Gangs Shelden, et al:: Chapter 5 Tues 13 Why There are Gangs: Ties Between The