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We see it or read about it every day, dead or detained: most members of organized crime are youngsters, barely adolescents.
Instead of a pencils, they have AK-47, instead of having fun at parties, they kidnap and kill, instead of enjoying their youth, they die.
It's understandable, because at that age, they have many moments of vulnerability that allow them to stumble into crime, says researcher Miguel Lozano Villegas, but also family factors make it easier.
Particularly during youth, all humans feel the need to belong to a group, somewhere they feel integrated, they seek an urban tribe, which, not surprisingly, among these kids, later will make it easier to enter gangs or organized crime. For that reason is is of utmost importantance to give them support, choices and tools in preventing this outcome.
Young people who grow to become criminals, have a similar profile:
- Have experienced domestic violence
- Are considered problem children
- Are labeled negatively by others
- A history of school failure
- Socialize with conflictive people
- They tend to use violence to solve problems.
What is it youth seek when entering criminal gangs and organized crime? Power, money and above all recognition.
Sometimes, they actually find it all, at least for a while. Most the time, sadly, they only find a familiar cell or an anonymous tomb.
