BALAS Y BARRIOS: AN ANALYSIS OF U.S. DOMESTIC AND REGIONAL ANTI-GANG POLICIES FROM A HUMAN SECURITY PERSPECTIVE
Author
Pfaffinger, Maximillian X.
Date
2021-12Advisor
Matei, Cristiana
Halladay, Carolyn C.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Threats to human security from transnational organized crime (TOC) and gangs have increased since the 1990s in the Americas. The United States implemented the Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, the U.S. Strategy to Combat the Threat of Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico, and the Mérida Initiative in response. This thesis employs a multi-goal policy to evaluate how effectively U.S. policy responses achieved desired outcomes. For comparison, this thesis analyzes the Canadian gang violence strategy, examining what has worked and what has not worked. Findings demonstrate that law enforcement tactics prioritized within the U.S. strategy result in outputs, but they fail to impact gang violence outcomes. Prevention programs, on the other hand, both in Canadian and U.S. strategies, are effective in reducing gang crime and violence but are under-resourced and undervalued in U.S. endeavors. This thesis proposes that a comprehensive approach is better aligned with current expert gang research and more effective in producing desired outcomes. Recommendations include funding the Juvenile Justice Reform Act and rebalancing Mérida funding to support United States Agency for International Development prevention programs; integrating federal, state, and local partnerships through a community coalition council through the Department of Justice; evaluating the Treasury’s TOC designation status; and supporting complementary prevention and rehabilitation.
Rights
Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Maritime Strategy and Naval Innovation (Continuation)
Russell, James A.; Wirtz, Jim (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate SchoolMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-12); NPS-19-N001-AThis project is a continuation of ongoing support by NPS to the work of N50 to further refining and improving the Navy's strategy development and implementation processes. This will be the fourth year of support to the ... -
America Promises to Come Back: A New National Strategy
Tritten, James John (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1991-08-05); NPS-NS-91-003BAn analysis of President Bush's new national security strategy first unveiled in Aspen, Colorado on August 2, 1990, involving a mix of active, reserve, and reconstitutable forces, and General Colin Powell's "base" force. ... -
America Promises to Come Back: A New National Strategy
Tritten, James John (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1991-05-13); NPS-NS-91-003AProvides an analysis of President Bush's new national security strategy first unveiled in Aspen, Colorado on August 2, 1990, involving a mix of active, reserve, and reconstitutable forces, and General Colin Powell's "base" ...