| This "Promoting
and Informed Public" special takes an in-depth look
at the overwhelming problem of gang violence that is plaguing
New Jersey cities like Newark and Trenton. There is no shortage
of media coverage of violent crime but most of it focuses
on individual incidents, human interest and public anxiety.
Seldom is there a discussion of the underlying causes of
our culture of violence, such as a family background of
abuse, alcoholism, the role of peer pressure and the influence
of television. On this special, Steve Adubato takes an in-depth
look at the growing problem of gang violence that is plaguing
New Jersey communities.
Gangs pose a significant threat to community safety. Understanding
how and why gangs develop and what they offer to their members
is critical in order to create effective intervention and
prevention strategies. Although gangs all engage in criminal
behavior, extensive research reveals that they have different
codes of conduct, are motivated by different values, and
commit different types of crimes. Understanding such distinctions
is crucial to developing effective local responses. This
panel examines the tremendous emotional toll felt by individuals
living in urban areas who are besieged by the constant threat
of violent crime in their neighborhoods.
Curtis Sliwa |
Dr. Duane Dyson
|
Heaven Leigh Montgomery
|
Captain Barry Colicelli
|
Guests:
Curtis Sliwa – WABC talk show host
and Founder and President of the Guardian Angels whose mission
is to safeguard neighborhoods, schools, and cyberspace from
crime and violence.
Dr. Duane Dyson – Emergency room
physician and President and CEO of the Violence Prevention Institute.
Heaven Leigh Montgomery – who is
a high school senior in Newark, New Jersey. Heaven has lost
friends and family to gang violence.
Captain Barry Colicelli – Special
Assistant to Mayor Palmer of Trenton with the Mayors Office
of Anti-Gang Initiatives and Youth Development.
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