find the gang members who are the gang members. who are out there venice. they're right there that's the gang members a certain gang controls a certain neighborhood so. your most certainly if you live in a neighborhood can be exposed to that gay you're going to hail it the gang and if you're not a one to gang your lease accepted they know who you are you know i mean eventually they work it over so that they get you working for the. police are trying to identify gang faction members and stop the cycle of revenge before it sets in motion. because a simple argument and escalate into a shootout as happened on this corner. to day we're talking like you're a school high school girls. because well so buttons. on it. there's like some high school kids you know feel like to fill you with different cliques growing up i hear you almost couldn't understand the logic behind the turn making if you're part of a group you're accepted within the group you have the protection of the group you know at this point it could have been a girl cell phone t

how long have i been involved with gangs and gang members and trying to understand gangs?literally since i began my professional life is a very young social worker in south los angeles in 1978. so the real answer is very very long time. >> host: so when you talk about gangs, how do you define them? >> guest: i ask the members. i ask them how they see it. the definition doesn't come for me. i'm more interested in people and how they identify themselves. if they identify themselves as part of a neighborhood for a game because it's often a synonym, i listen to them. but i'm much more interested in how they talk about themselves rather than a label i put on them. >> host: how organized are these neighborhoods are gangs? >> guest: i love what father greg boyle says. it is disorganized crime. they are populated by adolescents and young adults. if anybody cast their memory to their own adolescent or raising teenagers, they know how impulsive, how disorganized, how live for the moment individual fire. at that is not to discredit the kind of games we hear about in the news, drug ca

gang violence or not.they are children they are vulnerable. so my take would be, yes, these are refugees. >> as long as the causes down there in central america are the same and they are the same, and i don't see any public policy addressing those, and the us doesn't have the important meaningful conversation about how it is going to treat the immigration problem, the conditions are there, the road is open. >> trafficked labor on the front lines? >> they're things, they're commodities... >> we go undercover... >> it isn't easy to talk at this base >> what's happing on u.s. bases? >> the tax payer directly pays the human trafficker >> fault lines al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> they're blocking the doors... ground breaking... they killed evan dead... truth seeking... >> they don't wanna see what's really going on >> break though investigative documentary series america's war workers only on al jazeera america >>> this is techknow. a show about innovations that can change lives. we're going to explor

gang violence or not. they are children they are vulnerable. so my take would be, yes, these are refugees. >> as long as the causes down there in central america are the same and they are the same, and i don't see any public policy addressing those, and the us doesn't have the important meaningful conversation about how it is going to treat the immigration problem, the conditions are there, the road is open. >> we pray for the children in the womb >> a divisive issue >> god is life , so it's his to take >> see a 10 year old girl who's pregnant, and you tell me that's what god wants... >> a controversial law >> where were you when the babies lives were being saved? >> are women in texas paying the price? >> who's benefiting from restricting access to safe abortions? >> fault lines... al jazeera america's hard hitting... ground breaking... truth seeking... breakthrough investigative documentary series access restricted only on al jazeera america . >> >>> this is al jazeera america, live from new york city, i

gang violence or not. they are children they are vulnerable. so my take would be, yes, these are refugees. >> as long as the causes down there in central america are the same and they are the same, and i don't see any public policy addressing those, and the us doesn't have the important meaningful conversation about how it is going to treat the immigration problem, the conditions are there, the road is open. >> this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm tony harris with a look at today's top stories. >> i will lead the department of justice. >> after six years in office attorney general eric holder steps down. the fbi finds the man who

gang activity. the investigative services unit or isu. >> i've been spending a lot of time challenging isu to get out and take the lead. be the spear tip out there to challenge gangsters and tell them, you can't do that on our yard. >> we're tasked to cover anything that affects institutional security. gang activity. in-prison truck trafficking, responding to services, crime scene investigations, but our prison gangs tend to cause the most problems here in the institution. so they are mainly our focus. >> we will be putting cuffs on. so we're going to put cuffs on him and then get him out. >> if you're working in prison, this is the best job to have. these guys are self-motivated. they are out the door handling something before i even get the chance to tell them to go do it. >> i'm the runt. i'm the baby. i'm the rookie. i'm the rookie. everybody is bringing me under their wings and saying, come on, let's go learn. you see all the, i guess you can say, backstage work, where it all goes. oftentimes w

we have dropout gangs. or even just a group of four or five, you know, bigger guys that just want to pressure other guys out of anything, out of money, out of clothing, out of food, out of anything they can get out of them. >> lieutenant munoz must now determine whether de la cruz is a victim of a gang or an active gang member himself. perhaps one who has requested protective custody under false pretenses. >> one of the two terms that they use is sleeper. it's one of the names. you know, he's a sleeper. he's coming in under radar. the other one they term they use, he's a torpedo. he's coming in and he's got a target and he's going to find his target, and explode on a guy. so i questioned him about that. >> while de la cruz still refused to give officials any information about the attack, later, he was willing to tell us why he decided to drop out, and seek protective custody. >> because in my hood, they're all like 18, 19, 20 years old, all they ever talk about is attempted robbery, burglary and it's all fo

they are loose just like to gangs are loose. i gangs and leadership are reported. remember how i started out by saying i learned it is not that different. what i've learned is very, very smart people are very adept people, very particular people and good planners are reported in gang life just waiting to be in mainstream life. >> host: have you felt threatened while working, studying the gangs? >> guest: no. that may be partly denial. and also what i did, i was very, very careful to align myself with people who are leaders as well as former gang members why don't want to savor my bodyguards, but who accompanied me, took care of me come about for me. there is also a couple of added factors with myself. one was because i worked as a social worker, believe it or not there are people in the housing development in south los angeles is still remembered me. and they were now grandparents and they were worried about their grandkids beauts of the remember me from three generations that you type in part of the community. the other thing is remember what i said, these folks a

though you walked away from the gang, it doesn't change your gang mental state because what happens is that you've already been trained by the gang. so it's easy, again, to re-establish yourself. >> so a lot of them they go in sny, they see older inmates, weaker inmates, and they band together again, you know, whether as a formal gang, we have dropout gangs, or even just a group of four or five, you know, bigger guys that just want to pressure other guys out of anything, out of money, out of clothing, out of food, out of anything they can get out of them. >> lieutenant munoz must now determine whether de la cruz is a victim of a gang or an active gang member himself, perhaps one who has requested protective custody under false pretences. >> one of the two terms that they use is sleeper. it's one of the names. you know, he's a sleeper. he's coming in under radar. the other one they term they use, he's a torpedo. he's coming in and he's got a target and he's going to find his target, and explode on a guy. so i questioned him about that. >> while de la cruz still refused to give officials

he doesn't want to be in a gang or affiliated with a gang anymore. while it's admirable, i have nothing really that i can give to my supervisor that will articulate that he is actually changing or wants to change. they all talk a good game. and so it's a best-case estimate, because i can't look at a man's heart or mind and say his intent is good. plain and simple. i can't do it. >> over in the women's wing, changes also on patricia gal reaney's mind. >> when people go to jail, you hope that's the last straw. to me, it's this or death. if i pick up the alcohol, i'll be right back in here. when i walk out these doors, i want to put it behind me. >> gal or eveny is currently awaiting trial for driving under the influence and some related charges. she has two prior convictions for driving under the influence. and hopes to reach a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid prison time. gal reaney admits to missing alcohol but now jail has triggered another craving. >> it's horrible. especially if you're as sexual as i am. it's like a nightmare. it's like a sex a

behind the gang members who are the gang members. who are out there then it's. their right there that's the gang members a certain gang controls a certain neighborhood so. your most certainly if you live in the neighborhood can be exposed to that gag you're going to hate with the gang and if you're not a want to getting your lease accepted they know who you are you know i mean eventually they work it over so that they get you working for the. police are trying to identify a gang faction members i'm stumped the cycle of revenge before it sets in motion. because a simple argument and escalate into a shootout as happened on this corner. the day we were talking like you're a school high school girls. roswell so if i. want to. there's like some of the high school kids you know to like to fill you with different cliques growing up out here you can understand the logic behind the turn making if you're part of a group you're accepted within the group you have the protection of the group you know at this point it could have been a girl cell p

i started gang-banging. you know?d, if i'm going to cry, then i'm going to let their blood be my tears, you know? >> what did you do to gain notoriety? >> point of word, blasting fools, you know? >> did you kill anybody? >> i mean, you know, i've been -- i've been -- it's been alleged, you know. >> through his years of coming in and out of custody, he has elevated his status within both the inmate population and the gang population to be considered a very violent inmate. >> all the things that i've been through, it's like i've been walking through hell wearing gasoline shoes. >> i'm telling you right now you've got the green light to do what ert is known best for. >> nice and steady. nice and steady. >> the team is on its way to briceno's cell to launch a surprise shakedown for contraband. and they're taking no chances. >> get on the ground. get on the ground. get on the ground or we will use less lethal weapons against you. >> slide out. slide out. on your stomach. keep coming out. just like that's fine. start headin

child molesters or gang dropouts.arned about prison, doesn't matter where you're housed, your safety is never guaranteed. >> we believe you may have been a victim of a battery. >> joseph de la cruz is a gang dropout, serving nine years for attempted murder at california san quentin state prison. when we first met him, authorities had just discovered that he had been assaulted inside his protective custody cell. >> this morning, you come out of your cell, we did a sweep to find out how many people stayed behind. you were discovered with injuries. and here's the medical report. >> despite obvious injuries, de la cruz refused to give correctional staff any information about the attack. >> we're trying to find out who -- i want to tell them what happened. >> any specific individuals you know are your enemies? >> no, sir. >> how about any prison weapons offenses? >> no, sir. >> do you belong to a gang? >> no, i don't. >> aside from what you're being accused of being a victim, are you involved in any other batteries in your

>> what gang are you affiliated with?ow do you deal with your gang affiliation once you leave here? >> i'm going to ignore them and go to school. >> you think ignoring them is going to work? >> hopefully. >> did it work last time? >> no, last time, i didn't have future plans. i got out, i didn't have my ged. i didn't have no future plans. now i do. i got an education. i got my ged. i'm going to go to college and play football. >> what was your intent with the gun? why did you have it? >> protection. >> from? >> other gang members. >> let me ask you this -- if i sent one of my sergeants to shake your room down right now and your release was dependent on whether or not there was stg material in your room, are you leaving or not? >> coming up on "lockup, pendleton juvenile." >> you were just talking about your victims, you were smiling. why were you smiling? >> tension-filled hours for andrew and abel. there's no guarantee either will go home. later, we find out what happened to the officer marcus branch attacked. in the nat

some of these gang members have .uasi-legal status has inadequate screening to prevent the embedded gang members here and enabling them to get status. ice policies often lead to the release of gang members who have been taken into custody and charged by some of the investigative agents. one of branches arresting them and another is releasing them back to the community. gang suppression is not the priority that it was. graveis leads me to have concerns about the potential for an increase in violence in crime to to street gang activity. a tothink it is about time see what you want to talk about and take your questions. there is a microphone. if you can wait for that and identify yourself. >> this is for the mayor. you were talking about the ages of the students. can you be more specific? can you determine the actual age of the students? are some as old as 18? we have no ability to confront the student directly and demand an accurate age. every once in a while we will be able to determine that somebody is well above the age at which they would be entitled to an education in the public schoo

since 2006 the number of gang members quadrupled. 90% of the murders were connected to gangs.he president announced an amnesty programme for members who turned in their weapons in july. more than 1,000 participated. >> this playground is in the middle of a battle ground where gangs are fighting for territory. they live in the buildings surrounding the football fields. they have names like baghdad and vietnam 23. despite government efforts to help people get out of gangs, people here say they do not go far enough. tired of the violence, these gang leaders turn in their weapons after committing crimes for years. everything from selling drugs to murder. they are skeptical that the government understands the problem. >> translation: people grow up watching family be killed. that pain stays with you. >> translation: if the government doesn't give us jobs, this will never end. they need to keep young people busy and give them opportunities, otherwise it will be chaos. >> as for hector, he has no sympathy for those that join of ranks of the gangs. and says only a heavy hand of the go

that didn't even gang bang. miramontes maintains his innocence in this case, he admits to past violence with his gang. >> well, the things that i did, it was like little things, you know. shoot-outs with different gang bangers, but never actually killed no one. injure them? yeah. killed them? no. i'm not a murderer. i'm not hard-core gangster. homey, no. my things were usually drugs, weapons, money, easy. i had good grades in elementary, junior high, high school. i graduated with a 3.17. i'm a certified electrician. people used to say, he works. he has a good job, but i started hooking up with different people, older friends, older guys. serious business. so, i was, easy money. i will do that favor for you, you know, let's go. >> what was easy money? >> delivering, here, there. meth. they used me to do all these runs. was i getting paid good money? yeah. was it worth it? not really. but that's one thing that i thank god for being locked up, is because being on the street, when i was on the street, oh, man, i was

gangs don't care. i'd parks public high school brought in an army veterans group of the iraq and afghanistan wars like rules protect students around the school perimeter. just. to survive go to these folks. nothing is freddy you know some attorneys cuse out a. very bright. school. at two thirty to school weekends for two thousand three hundred students the twenty five member of veteran squad takes up positions outside their job watching over a half mile of sidewalk looking for any signs of trouble and keeping the high schoolers safe. hello ladies. this is patrol type information so i right now i see these three people plus the two across the street so no one is left alone. and i guess you can say just about everybody's assess but . now been military trained for that you trained to spot. four hundred thousand students attend chicago public school many of them walk back home it can be dangerous like in this area where two rival gangs claim territory from the outside it looks peaceful but when you're actu

but here's the point i want to make, gang.f it takes four seconds to go from here to here, it takes four seconds to go from here to here. so i ask people when they get up there, do you suppose if you jump, you could hit the pool? and how would you find out? and here's what you do. you figure out how fast, how far out you could jump in one second, okay, in one second, then multiply that four times and you got it. it turns out you'll really hit way down here. let me--i hit something like way in here, see? in one second, i can jump that far, two seconds that far, three seconds that far, four seconds that far. so it turns out, it gets very, very steep very, very quickly and you get so far. knowledge of physics. you people are gonna find out that as you learn more and more physics, your social life is gonna increase because people are gonna gather around you. people are gonna find you more interesting, okay, because you're gonna have things to talk about now, okay? just like the time years ago, a fellow came to the town in san fran

we're probably unique in how we deal with the gangs out here. we've accepted the fact that there are going to be gangs and there's nothing we can do about it, so we try to control, you know, what they do. and we use the leaders a lot to control that. most of our leaders here have done a lot of time in our maximum security facility. they don't want to go back. and we hold that over their head. we tell them to keep their people in line or they're the first ones that are going to go down, because we know how gangs work. we know this gang member isn't going to do anything unless he's got it cleared to the top. come on in, have a seat. so you want to give me your story? >> well, i mean, to be honest, i don't really have one. i mean, i feel like this dude is just trying to get out of trouble. he knows who i am and i go under the bus every time. >> who was the other guy? >> wright. >> the other one that got him -- >> yeah. >> was he doing something to him? >> no, i mean, maybe. i mean, everyone knew this guy was a piece of trash, but who knows, you kno

i was really into the gang-banger scene.ht up. >> lee's childhood neighborhood was riddled with gangs. and lee joined up when he was barely in his teens. >> not listening to my family. not listened to ma. thinking i knew everything. running with the wrong crowd. i put my homeys before my family. and that's all i knew was my homeys. homey this. homey that. >> lee told us, despite being shot five times and serving a prior prison sentence, he couldn't give up gang life. then, his story took a turn. it had to do with recruiting his younger brother into the gang. >> when i was growing up, i never thought i would get past 21. i want my brother to get the same exact respect i was getting from the neighborhood so, when i'm gone, my brother gets the same respect. don't worry about bullying. just trying to run over him or the family. nowhere near my thoughts what's going to happen to him. >> while lee was locked up in corcoran, his little brother decided to turn his back on gang life, but on the streets attempting to leave your gang c

i've organized gang group demonstrations. i've been incorrigible and been all-around troublemaker for most of my years here at the prison. >> but bailey says there's a practical side to his behavior. >> prison is a delicate balance. some guys here are never going home. and for those of us who are, if we lose our edge one bit, then, like wolves, your own could turn on you, right? being in this environment, i've had to become and to be a predator in order to avoid being prey. >> finding appropriate housing for convicted killers who have continued their violent ways behind bars is always a challenge. a fact dramatically illustrated during our visit to kern valley state prison in california. >> it's always work, work, work. >> when we met james randall he was working his prison job, helping officers serve food to fellow inmates. when we sat down to talk in his cell, randall seemed to only have one concern. how his shaved head looked on camera. >> there ain't no lint on my head or nothing. >> want some gel. >> you're fine. >> i'll

this is because they don't want to join these gangs and their children are joining the gangs. that is why i am here to ask for your help so that i don't have to suffer what others suffered including mothers. thank you >> [applause] >> good morning. my name is william. i'm here to ask for your help with finding attorneys because in the course we have to represent ourselves and we can't do that and we need your help. thank you. >> [applause] >> if i can ask them a question. if they can say with their age is? >> 12, 7 >> 13 >> >> 10 >> 12 >> [applause] >> good morning. everyone authorities and the press. my name is paulo. i'm 28 years old. i'm here with my daughter -- was 5 years old.i am here seeking with an open heart. this is very emotional to me. i'm not here to live. i'm here to speak from my heart to you all. in my country of honduras i was a student of business administration. as a student as someone who aspired for more i'm a mother of 3 children the opportunity my country are shot. as someone with a strong sense of work ethic i worked since i was 11 years old since to pr

the gang squad went and they did a sweep on my neighborhood, on my gang on the streets.n jail, they think i cut me a deal to turn in a couple of my homies on the streets so i could get out. basically they made some threats toward my girl like, because everybody knew where my old lady lived at. >> the next day, martinez was allowed to contact his fiance before anything happened. but he says the experience only deepened his resolve to give up gang life. >> my whole life i've been doing this. i've been in and out of jail since i was 10. the longest i stayed on the streets was three months. i know anybody who's anybody on the streets. not one of them put money on my books. not one of them sent me a postcard, visit me, or call my old lady when she's struggling, ask her if she needs gas money or if manuel is doing all right. none of them do that, you know what i mean? it's overrated, straight up. it's very overrated. everybody is afraid of the last part of their name, mafia. the mexican part, once you say mafia, everybody shivers. ooh. i don't give a [ bleep ]. they don't pay

the gang or be killed. in security and threats, youngsters are forced to take a dangerous journey north, mainly to the u.s., to save their lives. >> police say without doubt the majority of disappeared are victims of gang violence. over 2,000 missing since 2013. deputy police chief howard says the gang philosophy is simple. if there is no body, there's no crime. >> what is most worrying is the practice of disappearing bodies is a mechanism to hide a crime. so the investigations can't mo ahead and the cases remain unsolved. >> the only forensic criminologist in el salvador is willing to risk his life though give answers to the desperate mothers. police escort him and the team, because the gangs bury their victims in isolated and dangerous areas they control. >> this is a well-known cannes deft joined -- clandestined cemetery. >> thousands of people's remains were exhumed. witnesses provide information about locations and victims. he digs for weeks or months trying to find what he's looking for. >> translatio

ultimate shares his own story trying to convince leon to stay away from gangs. these people in these blocks this community if they don't look at the you gotta do one thing. all you gotta think of yourself is turn. was cut all away. this was the gadget i went to school. and this was begat that was server farm with a trick that they end up out of me. and knew i had a second chance at life if i could do so playing today well with that where was you all. keep. reading all. night. some of the guys we probably hate to leave you to go come back at you again. you got a notice on the phone from up. leon and his family are afraid of what could happen the presumed shooter was arrested then killed in prison. baltimore will have to negotiate a truce with the rival faction to break the infernal vention cycle or whatever cliquey is and in a round. they are not what they say they are because there's no way possible you can do stuff. for money his buddies even go to main issue is he could be somebody else is generation is just like the wow wow west. this generation's codes certa

gang, a lot of authority with the street gang and position. recently, roger has terminated his association by removing the tattoos on his arm which is a measurable feat. >> how significant of a step is that for somebody who's been affiliated with a gang to remove the gang signs from themselves? >> a monumental step, a remarkable feat. >> do you believe it would be safe for him to be released to the care and custody of his mother. >> yes, i do zmoos that's all the questions i have. rod, what brings you here today. aware being karnledded with he ever resisting law enforcement. are you going to cooperate with the prosecutor's osts in identifying the person whose marijuana it was. >> i will do that because it's not mine. i'm not going to jail for nothing that's not mine. i've been working too hard this year. i have improved my whole life. my mother told me a long time ago when i was at boy's school if i ever in my life from now till the time i'm dead, did i ever got locked up she wouldn't be here now. and you know i felt that's why i know my mothe

relating to drug activity and gangs and criminal activity we were just trying to to . to demonstrate i guess that there's a risk to the strategy as well as you know benefits to it. and yet this past july the city of chicago decided than over one million dollars to cease fire to expand the area served by the group. guns are used in eighty percent of the murders committed in chicago but this ultra sensitive topic wasn't even broached in the presidential campaign because every us citizen has the right to bear arms talking about gun control is a sure fire way to loose spokes exasperated south side residents spend their saturday demonstrating outside the areas targeted gun shop calling for tighter gun control laws farther flake areas flanked by a weighty ally jesse jackson a famous figure in the civil rights movement jackson made to run for the presidency in the one nine hundred eighty s. as a democratic party candidate. yeah well reverend jackson this is victory to close us the biggest sales they're closed down right now so we're right. he's going to broaden and we. think

i loved it. >> having abandoned his family for gang life, kirkpatrick turned to other crimes. when we met him, he was serving his second prison term, eight years for burglary. >> i know right from wrong. i'm not a stupid individual. i might make stupid decisions, but i'm not a stupid individual. >> during his time in prison, kirkpatrick still had his gang to fall back on, but like his biological family, he eventually left his gang family, though not totally on his own accord. >> i was holding contraband, and i was holding something, and i lost it. yeah. i had lost it. >> any specific enemies, names, numbers? >> no. >> kirkpatrick explained the contraband was a packet of gang information including a roster of current members. when he realized it was gone, he was afraid the gang might order a hit on him as punishment. >> i told the c.o., look, i got to go. he was like why? i said because i lost something i'm not supposed to. you need to get me out of here before something more serious happens. >> kirkpatrick turned his back on his gang. he requested a move to protective custody.

over 90% of the murders last year were connected to gangs.he president announced an amnesty program for gang members who turned in their weapons in july. so far more than 1,000 people have participated and joined rehabilitation programs. this playground is in the middle of a battleground where gangs are fighting for territory. they live in the buildings that surround this football field, and they have names like baghdad and vietnam 23, but despite the government's efforts to help people get out of gangs, people here tell us that those efforts don't go far enough. >> tired of the violence these gang leaders turned in their weapons after committing crimes for years. everything from selling drugs to murder. but they are skeptical that the government understands the roots of the problem. >> people grow up watching family members get killed. that pain and resentment stays with you and you continue the cycle of violence. >> if the government doesn't give us jobs, this will never end. they need to keep young people easy and give them opportunities.

as the shock collar of the white supremacist gang.. i was expecting this mean, tough, hardcore guy. instead it was this tommy that we came to know who seemed shy, a little timid. a little withdrawn. >> i have a pretty good heart. my mom, she's always had foster kids. and she's worked in a group home. so, i mean, i've always wanted to do what she did. i always wanted to help somebody. and i really think i can. >> during the shoot, he was brought in for questioning when another inmate accused him of execution. >> hey. >> watching lieutenant fox deal with tommy was very interesting. they had a certain rapport. i would almost call it a professional rapport. >> come on in. have a seat. so, you want to give me your story? >> to be honest, i don't really have one. i mean, i feel like this dude is trying to get out of trouble. he knows who i am. i go under the bus every time. >> they seemed to know what each other's boundaries were. they talked in a very amicable way. and fox was giving tommy advice on how to stay out of trouble. >> if you're