Where are the fathers? That's the fundamental question. Spare the rod, spoil the child. The permissive "global materialistic consumer oriented society" that promotes absentee fathers, and women that will do 'anything' for a buck produces these little orphans, or bastards to put it in vulgar terms.

The Industrial revolution brought all the peasants, and people of agricultural occupations to cities began the slippery slope that has produced juvenile deliquents; Secondly, the Sexual Revolution of the 1960's accelerated the fall to the state that we find the cities, and even the small towns- The relaxation of long established moral principles produced:. More women have children without fathers to guide their families; Women change sex partners as if they were shoes. But, the biggest blame falls to these "boys" grown men with sexual drives, but no responsibility for their actions; Men (boys) who procreate and abandon their mates, and offspring. These are the greatest culprits of the 8 year olds hanging around with derilicts. If a boy has a father at home who doesn't put up with his hooligan ways, he is quickly disciplined. The system doesn't want parents to spank one's children; But, are the first to bust their heads open with a night stick. How about that? Baby Daddy?

Enough of that "chulo", player from the himalaya ideology, all ready. Raise your children. Responsibility is the man's first trait; Not that you have a bevy of women. Be a man, take care of your children, son. So, they won't wind up at la victoria, or in Sing Sing.
Please, forgive my digression, but the time has come to call a spade a spade. Pan, Pan, y vino, vino. Tu sabe?
There will always be plenty of orphans; Don't contribute to the problem of the low life wana-be convicts of the future.

The birth control pill, welfare, industrial revolution, and reggeaton have all been causes for the increase in gangs....The DR should teach civil responsibility in school, get more community involvement and create more social programs where civilians help other civilians...not just giving money to the poor.

3T's: Throwing money doesn't solve problems; Look at the U.S. they invented "paper-money". It sometimes perverts people's habits; Produces the "lazy boy'" syndrome. Give the children all they need: lots of food, a TV in his room, video, and computers, they'll turn out great. Well, that's not the case: Brooklyn is full of such spoiled children. Your point is valid: Teach them Civil studies, social responsibility, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
America is living proof that Free Stuff doesn't guarantee prosperity; Until the 1980 Dominicans, as a whole never accepted WELFARE in NYC; Since then, a new breed of takers have flourished in the world. The Baby Boomers never took, what they could earn themselves. It's a new day, partner. Like that stoopid movie: The Dark Knight; It's a Dark Night; and the darkness is producing some shady characters, my friend. Give me, Give me; When they fail to take care of what they have: Their Kids! End result: little bandits, Tigres wilding-out.

Guess The country might have to do what They did it in Brazil few years ago, on the long term will be cheaper and more convenient for everybody.

Punish the parents who allow their children to break the law. Since you can't send the children to prison, send the parents. You can be sure if a parent knew that he would be punished for the criminal acts of his child he will take an interest in the child's activities.

Part 1
How sad...Only now the anti-gang Dept. share info. with the Police !.....gangs are nothing new to the Dom. Rep. my Father used to tell me of a street gang in Santo Domingo in the 1950's called "LOS PALADEROS " [stick carriers] which numbered in the 100's from age 10-20 years old at least in those days they used sticks not guns or knifes, As someone who has worked with law Enforcement [ anti-gang ] in the City of Los Angeles for the last 25 years, a GANG is defined as....A group of one or more individuals who act as a group in the commission to commit a crime, which by definition could be the Baseball, Soccer, Basketball team, and yes even a group of concern Citizens. In America Street Gangs are right up there with Baseball and Apple pie, so far I have read many good ideas except the Brazilian way which does not work and only served to toughen the Gang element which resulted in better organization a good example of that is San Salvador with the MS street Gang, read # 2

Part # 2
In San Salvador while the Police and the Military are in full force patrolling the Streets things are good but as soon as they leave, things are back to normal [ the local businesses even pay protection money ] The older Gang Leaders / members / recruiters have there work cut out, EASY PIKING but that is what happens when Poverty, Fatherless Children numbers are high, we turn the other way and look at it as somebody else's problem....just think , we can run but we can't hide, all kids want LOVE, kids are not born bad...There Created
This Gang Culture is so deeply in bedded in U.S Society just look at Rap music and hip-hop bull sh*t where Woman are depicted as HO's , Gang dress takes it's root from Prison Life [ at least kids are dressed for it ].
WE lock up the parents, but who's gonna look after the kids ? CRIME WITHOUT PUNISHMENT will only serve to breed more CRIME but then again we can point fingers at each other, just remember theres 3 fingers pointed right back.

Sounds like Rio de Janeiro .. where the police is begging the Brazilian army to intervene on their behalf .. children as young as 10 are packing military grade fire power ..

We should not compare the Dominican Republic with places like Rio Janeiro and San Salvador. We should compare the Santo Dominogo to cities like Panama City, San Jose, or Buenos Aires. We should strive for better.

Part 1
To: TTT and anybody who really cares.
One of the problems we have here in America is that we study Social PROBLEMS, then we become experts on the PROBLEM, we lecture about the PROBLEM, write books about the PROBLEM, might even appear on the Opra Winfre t.v show to discuss the PROBLEM, Politicians gore and platform on the PROBLEM....Meanwhile the PROBLEM grows, the PROBLEM is....We get so hung out on the PROBLEM that we say that's somebody else's PROBLEM....SO WE FORGET THE WORD SOLUTIONS, we could be part of that PROBLEM TOO, it's simple....Just do like everybody else and just IGNORE the PROBLEM, or start by doing something to curb the PROBLEM..You start by using the word SOLUTIONS, SOLUTIONS..Ever wonder why your kids never get involved with GANGS and DRUGS ????? That's because your an expert on the SOLUTIONS and you don't even know it...YOU KNOW SOME OF THE MOST MOVING AND INSPIRATIONAL WORDS HAVE COME TO ME BY MY PARENTS, LOVE ONES AND YES & TOTAL STRANGERS.
SEE #2

Part # 2
As I was saying...Sometimes it's just to easy, simple like...The last time I was in Santo Domingo a small boy came up to me and asked if he would shine my shoes, and without realizing it I said yes [ I was wearing water socks, slippers ] then, realizing my error I said no-thanks, I'll never forget the stare that little boy gave me, so I reached into my pocket and gave the boy one U.S dollar and told him GOD LOVES YOU, only to be criticized by a Gentleman from another Country on vacation standing a few feet away...You see ! he said you give these little $#^&@ money and they will never leave you alone...Shocked by his response, I almost lost my mind and said YOU SEE THIS BOY TRYING TO MAKE AN HONEST LIVING, OR WOULD IT BE BETTER IF HE PICK POCKET YOUR WALLET, or better yet ROB YOU AT GUN / KNIFE POINT WHEN HES OLDER...
Then something good happened, 1 hour 3 blocks later that same little boy warned me of a man w/cell phone who targets and robs tourist.

there are street gangs who are not necessarily involved in violent and thieving activities, albeit few and far between. however, who can rail against gangs of street kids who steal property and money in a society in which the biggest thieves are those who ought to know better? when you grow up in a society in which there is scamming and thievery at every level of society, and not a vestige of a good example, what do you think children are going to emulate?

Dreadlocks I totally agree with you. DR is a very corrupt society with very few individuals trying to make an example. There is corruption everywhere but in the DR you can't trust anyone.

Historically, kids in U.S in the early part of the 20th Century joined Gangs for the same reason they join gangs today.Broken Homes, No Father figure, Alienation, Protection and a Since of Family, Brotherhood and little or no self esteem and so on........The problem was they were ignored....Only later to become the Italian, Irish, Jewish Mafias of the 1920's 30's and present day . So it's no surprise to see Street Gangs in the last 50 plus years in the West Coast quad triple in size and strength, with the large influx of Salvadorian, Columbian, Vietnamese, Laos, Russian, and Armenian Emigrants to name a few, at least for now there only Mini-Mafias fighting Traditional Mexican / American Street Gangs over, and control of the Streets / Territories, kind of like Country's of the World go to fight WARS over land. And as always we ain't seen nothing yet..To date we are following the same patterns of that of the turn of the Century, IGNORE, "I am my Brothers keeper"