These Cities Have The Largest Gang Infestations In America
By
Michael Avery in
Facts
On 26th July 2017
It is assumed that over 1.5 million people in the United States are gang members. Most of these gangs formed in urban centers where they still grow and thrive to this day. Cities like NY and LA are not safe from gang activity even with their lower crime rates.
Gangs are in no way exclusive to the US. Yet when someone hears of a violent crime it's assumed to have taken place in America and be gang related. That alone says all you need to know about the US and gangs.
While TV would have you living in constant fear of gangs the truth of the matter is that most violent gang activity is directed at rival gangs, not everyday bystanders. That said, in cities with high gang population, people are regularly targeted for recruitment or initiation.
Let's take a look now at the most gang infested cities in the United States.
6. East St. Louis, Illinois
The lesser known brother to Missouri's St. Louis, Illinois' East St. Louis is no walk in the park. Gangs have made their home in this poor neglected city and it's really not surprising. The city is near the top of America's most crime ridden list. You are actually x17 more likely to be murdered here than most other cities. The murder rate just keeps climbing as gangs rule the city with next to no opposition from police.
East St. Louis, Illinois cont.
While not as dangerous as its eastern brother, St. Louis Missouri is no stranger to gang activity and violence. Just check out the video below.
5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
OKC is a beautiful city but like all things beautiful it hides a dark secret. The ghettos of the city are very real and very dangerous. There are gas stations and stores that have bars over the windows and are equipped with bullet proof glass. If you see any of these things then you are definitely on the wrong side of town. OKC violence is spurred by bitter rivalries between the various street gangs vying for territory. This along with the drug trade and drive by shootings makes up the large part of the cities gang violence. Most of the gang activity seems to center around males between the ages of 15 and 19. It's safe to say that OKC is definitely one of the most gang infested cities in America.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The video below can give you a better perspective on the city. Things really changed after the OKC bombing.
4. Camden, New Jersey
It's no surprise that gang activity rises drastically with the amount of budget cuts that city police forces are given. Camden is most certainly no exception. The city has long been held as America's most dangrous city. To go along with this distinction, the cities police force was reduced by over a 3rd from 2008 -2011. During that time, gang membership more than doubled. Gang numbers have spiked thanks to a nearly 70% drop out rate in the city. Add that with one of the poorest economies in the nation it's no wonder that gang life looks so appealing to the youth. There really are not many options. The city has a population around 70,000 people and there is very little chance of anyone growing up there and escaping the city.
Camden, New Jersey
Check out the video below to find out more about life in Camden.
3. Detroit, Michigan
You know Detroit had to make the list. It's consistently one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. The drastic rise in unemployment and poverty caused by loss of industry has made the city a breeding ground for gangs. The city has also suffered a colossal economic collapse that has left the city with around 2000 police officers compared to a general population of over 700,000.
Unlike most cities, the gangs in Detroit don't associate with the major nationwide gangs and don't have any real structure or organization. They literally spring up overnight in a neighborhood.
While the national crime rate continues to decrease across America, Detroit's crime rate soars due to the gangs running the streets unchecked by police. In 2010 it was determined that there were 106 homicides involving youth and over 12,000 youth arrests for various crimes. This points to a bleak outlook for the future of the city.
Detroit, Michigan
Take a look at the real streets of Detroit.
2. Los Angeles, California
LA was once known as the gang capital of the US. You don't get that title for just having a few gangs. Los Angeles has long been painted as a city where the streets are hard and the gangs are prevalent. The thing is the fiction isn't far from the truth. Nearly every large gang that operates in America has some form of influence in the city. There are around 450 active gangs in LA with over 45,000 members in them. The LAPD at times is overwhelmed. Over the last 3 years, there have been over 16,000 violent crimes committed by gangs that have been verified. LA is a huge city so it's pretty safe overall, but, if you find yourself in an area that has visible gang activity it's best that you keep moving.
Los Angeles, California
Take a deeper look at the history of Los Angeles and it's gangs.
1. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has drastically changed over the years. The city boasts a shocking 150,000 or more active gang members making it the new gang capital of the US. Just in 2013, there were 413 murders. If not for the fact that it represents a drop from the 523 the city saw in 2012 that number would be even more shocking. Chicago law enforcement estimates that nearly 80% of all murders and shootings in the city are gang related.
As with other cities, government budget cuts and reduced police forces has led to the increase in gang activity. There are only 200 officers on the cities anti-gang unit. Those small numbers cannot possibly handle the hundreds of gangs that operate all over the city. Making matters even worse, the historical chain of command of Chicago gangs has come apart leaving new smaller gangs to fight over territory once held by larger gangs.
Chicago is like a ticking time bomb just waiting to destroy itself and this is never truer than on the 4th of July when the explosions you here are more likely to be gunfire than they are to be fireworks.
Chicago, Illinois
Take a look at bloody Chicago below.
