Gangs in Indian Country
Social Services

December 10-12, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
$824

The street gang subculture, once a major city issue, has slowly but steadily made its presence known in Indian Country. Many tribes are struggling to find solutions to this growing problem, which is affecting communities large and small.

This comprehensive course provides the information needed to understand the “gangster mentality” and how it affects communities, families and individuals. It offers strategies and tactics for combating the growth of the gang problem, which, at the core, is a community problem. In addition to a greater understanding of the gang phenomena, the course provides current information on drug usage, because it contributes to criminal and anti-social behavior and is often connected to gangships.

This interactive course is taught by Christopher Grant,* a nationally recognized law enforcement and Native American youth gang specialist. Mr. Grant, a former Chief of Detectives of the Rapid City, South Dakota Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and member of the Rapid City Area Gang Task Force, has worked in law enforcement for 27 years. He’ll provide you with the information that you need to understand and address the problem.

While no single solution exists to eradicate gangs and drugs in a community, education and awareness are essential to positive change and prevention. Register today.

*Instructor subject to change.

Topics that will be covered include:

An Introduction to the Gang Subculture
  • Brief history of gangs in America
  • Defining “gang” and “gang membership”
  • How street gangs differentiate from other criminal structures
  • Dispelling the myths — The truth about the gang subculture
  • Violent crime in America
  • The “gangster mentality” and the code of the gang subculture
  • Gang values vs. mainstream values
  • Learning the gangster mentality
  • Motivators for gang involvement
  • Gang recruitment
  • Gang behavior
  • Consequences of gang involvement
 Identifying the Manifestations of Gang Behavior
  • Street gang identifiers — Creating the package
  • National gang trends — Major gang structures in America
  • Gang symbolism and graffiti
  • Tattoos and other body markings
  • Hand signs and other communications
  • Gang representation and clothing styles
  • Weaponry
  • Gangs in Indian Country — A profile of how Native American gangs are woven into gang structures nationally and internationally
 Gang Prevention and Interdiction
  • Assessing the gang problem in your community
  • Creating a community consortium
  • Effective education-based intervention and prevention tactics
  • Effective community-based intervention and prevention tactics
  • Creating a law enforcement task force
  • Effective law enforcement-based intervention and prevention tactics
  • Effective parental-based intervention and prevention tactics
  • Interacting with gang-involved youth
 Basic Drug Identification and Awareness
  • The drug culture in the United States
  • The drug and gang connection in Indian Country
  • Indian Country drug smuggling considerations
  • Marijuana
  • Methamphetamine
  • Clandestine meth labs in Indian Country
  • Cocaine
  • Heroin
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Inhalants
  • Other legal and illegal drug considerations

Register Now