Mentoring at-risk kids prevents gangs: expert on The Murfreesboro Post

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Mentoring at-risk kids prevents gangs: expert

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By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 2:26 pm

Fifteen teachers dubbed the “silent mentors” each identified five at-risk children and checked on their welfare daily.

Because the teachers intervened, the at-risk children’s grade point averages increased and discipline problems decreased, making a huge impact on their lives, said Steve Nawojczyk, a gang expert from Little Rock, Ark.

“Mentoring is the easiest way in the world to change a child’s life,” Nawokczyk said to about 250 people attending MTSU’s Forensic Institute for Research and Education’s three-day 2010 Youth Gang Organized Crime Symposium. Law enforcement officers, educators, counselors, pastors and correction officers attended the symposium.

He showed TV interviews with Juvenile Court Judge Leodis Harris of Cleveland, Ohio, who ordered a father to spend time with his son. During the interview, Harris said children get into gangs because they lack a father’s influence.

In another interview, John Foster of Omaha, Neb., became a Mad Dad because gang members beat his son for having stripes on his car. Foster originally planned to shoot the suspects but refrained and took community action.

A Las Vegas principal keeps up with her students by using an alias to befriend students on Facebook and MySpace.

Communities must get involved to stop the gang problem, Nawojczyk said.

Hunter Glass, a gang consultant in North Carolina, said gangs such as the Gangsta Disciples in Nashville connect by having a franchise in Murfreesboro.

Glass warned officers to watch graffiti to track the gang activity.

“It wouldn’t surprise me to see more franchise organizations come into Murfreesboro,” Glass predicted.

Another expert, Marco Silva of Georgia, said law enforcement officers are responsible for identifying gangs. But fighting the problem takes everyone.

“It’s not just a police thing, it’s an everybody thing,” Silva said.

Silva suggested police officers contact probation officers about gang members since probation rules prohibit offenders from gang affiliation. Offenders may have their probation revoked and serve the sentence if they violate the rules of probation.

During a question-and-answer session, many police officers complained about the lack of gang laws in Tennessee.

For the military, Glass defined gangs as a “security threat group” whose purpose is create an atmosphere of intimidation, intentional or perceived, that threatens the mental well-being of others. By defining gangs in that fashion, legislation may be easier to pass.

It’s illegal on school grounds to recruit any organization not recognized by the school board, Glass noted.

Shawn Williams, president of the Tennessee Gangs Investigators Association, said until citizens complain, the gang problem falls on deaf ears for legislators.

Williams urged police officers to get involved by keeping probation officers and the Department of Correction aware of gang members. He sends a copy of his file to the DOC when a gang member is sentenced to prison.

“You’ve got to make the effort,” Williams said.

Tagged under Forensic Institute for Research and Education, Gangs

Member Opinions:

By: aeckfam on 3/13/10
You know what prevents a person from joinging the gang life? A solid, family foundation. Family and home life is the top problem.