Security threat groups are gangs that threaten the security of an institution. In the nineteenth century, STGs in prison was formed to unite and protect inmates (Gaston &Huebner, 2015). In recent decades, there have been rampant cases of STGs in incarceration facilities. It is one of the most prevalent problems in correctional facilities today. The increased cases of STGs can be attributed to the fact that there are a significant number of inmates serving long sentences for violent crimes committed outside the correctional facilities. The STGs in correctional facilities tend to defy authorities and instil fear within the prison. The growth of Security Threat Groups in prison contributes to a higher percentage of violence recorded in prisons. Inmates join or establish STGs for different reasons; the groups pose threats to the general incarceration facilities' well-being. Therefore, proper strategies should be implemented to control and monitor these groups.
STGs constitute pre-existing gangs that formed outside the confinement walls as well as new members without a history of belonging to a gang. Inmates with prior experience in gangs before being confined are most likely to join STGs while in correctional facilities. This is attributed to the fact that it will give them a sense of belonging, and they may only experience a slight change from their lives outside the prison walls. Operating in gangs has been their lifestyle, and therefore they are most likely to continue with their way of life in confinement. Inmates who have no history of belonging to any gang may find themselves members of STGs while in prison. Different reasons may drive them to join STGs.
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Inmates without any history of belonging to a gang may join STGs in prison walls for protection and monetary gains. There are different STGs in prison. These groups tend to be rivals with each other and cause disruption and violence in incarceration facilities. When an individual does not belong to any STG, he may encounter physical and emotional assault from members belonging to a certain STG. However, if an individual is a member of a particular STG, the group will protect him from an assault that may befall him because assaulting a single member belonging to a specific group will prompt all the other members to come to the defence of the victim. As much as STGs disrupt the incarceration facilities' well-being, they offer security and protection to their members against other inmates (Gaston & Huebner, 2015). Additionally, inmates may join STGs for monetary gains. An inmate who was a drug dealer before confinement may opt to join STG to facilitate his business in incarceration facilities. STGs tend to indulge in illegal businesses; therefore, such an inmate will benefit from joining the group. The STG will enhance and ensure that his illegal business continues to generate income.
Law enforcement officials should improvise measures to control and monitor STGs groups. STGs groups pose threats to the security officers, other inmates, and the general well-being of incarceration facilities; therefore, it is necessary to control and monitor these groups. The prison administrators may use the segregation approach. This is whereby all the inmates belonging to STGs groups should be secluded from other inmates and placed in different facilities. This will minimize the growth of STGs groups since there will be minimized interaction with the other inmates. It will also grant the administrators advantage to monitor all the activities the groups are indulging in easily. According to (Burman, 2012), when people with common interests come together, there tend to be minimized disagreement prompting to peace. Therefore keeping members of a particular STG together will prompt a minimized number of violent cases in incarceration facilities because they will have no reason to disagree and fight.
In conclusion, inmates join or establish STGs for different reasons. The groups pose threats to the general incarceration facilities' well-being; therefore, proper strategies should be implemented to control and monitor these groups. STGs constitute of pre-existing gangs that formed outside the confinement walls as well as new members. Inmates without any history of belonging to a gang may join STGs in prison walls for protection and monetary gains. Lastly, law enforcement officials should improvise measures to control and monitor STGs groups because these groups tend to pose security threats to the other inmates and security officers and guards.
References
Burman, M. L. (2012). Resocializing and repairing homies within the Texas prison system: A case study on security threat group management, administrative segregation, prison gang renunciation and safety for all (Doctoral dissertation).
Gaston, S., & Huebner, B. M. (2015). Gangs in correctional institutions. The handbook of gangs , 328-344.
