GANGS OF NEW HAVEN: COMBATING GROUP VIOLENCE IN A SMALL CITY

Abstract

In July 2015, I took a trip with my work supervisor to Lynn, Massachusetts, to visit one of her former juvenile group violence-involved clients. Now in his late twenties and working at a faith-based youth gang intervention nonprofit, he has attempted college but spoke to us about his struggles to stay focused on his work. Like many of his peers, he felt the toll of childhood trauma and violence years later, impeding his best efforts to turn his life around. Worse, financial difficulties typical of formerly incarcerated people compounded his emotional struggles; even if he had sought adequate mental health treatment to work through his trauma, he likely would not have been able to afford to continue it.