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Are Community Solutions to Gang Violence Effective?
Gang violence is a far-reaching issue that represents a serious threat that has invaded not
only the big cities but also the small neighborhoods. A gang shares a typical identity or territory
and perpetrates criminal acts ranging from drug trafficking to murder. Solving gang violence
requires an exhaustive comprehension of underlying causes and practical solutions. Due to the
complexity of the issue, its prevention should involve suppression, intervention, and protection
techniques. This study analyzes the multi-layered issue of gang violence and inspects the
elements that add to its overwhelming effect and spread. Moreover, the study investigates the
likely effectiveness of community-based solutions in addressing gang violence.
Analysis
Gang Violence as a Social Problem
In most contexts, gang violence is considered a criminal matter rather than a social
conflict issue triggered by boredom, poverty, and peer pressure. Due to this, there is less effort to
reduce the violence or offer aid from the international community. Widespread gang violence,
such as that seen in El Salvador, Rosen et al. (2023) argue represents a new kind of armed
conflict and is meant to instill fear and violence in society, raise drug activity levels, and destroy
property which in turn decrease society productivity.
Men, as is typical in war, tend to play
central positions in both gangs and the state's reaction. However, women are increasingly
participating in gang activities, such as delivering guns or drugs and caring for gang members
(Decker & Van Winkle, 2020). Gangs also utilize violence against women as a strategy to acquire
power in their communities. Women increasingly make up the ranks of the displaced because of
the widespread gender-based violence perpetuated by gangs. Resolving this issue is paramount to
