The subject of crime is one of the most contentious issues in the society that permeates every aspect of human identity such as age, gender, race or tribe (Anderson, 2009). As a big problem in the society, the concept of its solution calls for adoption of cost effective strategies (Anderson & Taylor, 2010).
Therefore, the question for research in this scenario should be hinged on establishing cost effective approaches to the issue. As the director of the county juvenile court, the research question related to the problem at hand should state as follows: What are cost effective methods of solving the proliferation of violent street gangs in the county?
Causes of the Problem
The above research question will therefore provide the guideline in solving the issue of crime. Before designing the methods of ending the problem, it is cognizant to identify the route courses of violent gangs.
The most common causes of violent gangs are lack of employment opportunities for the youths, peer pressure, lack of access to basic human needs such as shelter, idleness among the youths, poor moral standards due to lack of parental guidance, and drug use among the youths (World Youth Report, 2003).
Based on the aforementioned causes, the issue of research in this case is to establish cost effective methods that will significantly reduce the causes of violent gangs in the society. When solving criminal behavior in the society, it is cardinal to identify the immediate causes of crime that can easily lead to criminal behavior (Anderson & Taylor, 2010).
However, this may depend on other factors such as age, race, and ethnic affiliation. For instance, with regards to age, youths are likely to be involved in delinquent criminal behavior depending on the social factors such as peer pressure and parenting style.
However, with regards to tribe, race or ethnic affiliation, youths may be involved in crime due to lack of access to basic commodities such as shelter, employment or education. This condition has been observed among the African American youths. When particular groups of people in the society lack access to basic human needs, the rate of crime is likely to increase (Anderson, 2009).
Cost Effective Methods
The solutions adopted to end crime in the society must embrace the issue of diversity. They should take into account all the causes of crime regardless of age or any other form of identity (World Youth Report, 2003). The issue of cost should be applied in evaluating every strategy that is aimed reducing the problem.
For instance, to reduce the issue of unemployment, the cost effective approach is to encourage the youths to participate in community based programs and provide vocational training. The long term solution to unemployment is to encourage the youth to pursue public education and also reducing the cost of public education.
The other cost effective approach to end the problem is to provide guidance to the parents and their children through community based guidance initiatives. Such programs should be aimed at reducing the influence of peer pressure and drug use among the youths.
The other solution towards the problem is to collaborate with the municipal authority to provide affordable housing units for the homeless. These solutions will answer the research question and hence solve the problem at hand (Anderson & Taylor, 2010).
References
Anderson, E. (2009). Code of the Street: Decency, violence, and the moral life of the inner city. New York: Norton and Company.
Anderson, M., & Taylor, H. (2010). Sociology: The Essentials. New York: Cengage Learning.
World Youth Report (2003). Juvenile delinquency. Web.