people in gangs are shit. ... i think that gangs are the most racist groups ever created. they demand respect but did nothing to earn it except maybe kill someone or beat their ass, that doesn't take brains. Oh you accidentally bumped into them at Riley's, goddammit you should die. fu*k me man, go to hell. all of them, they are wastes of space that could be used for something else.

 no jobs in that area !! and a thing called meth !! which has been increasing for the last 15 yrs..this generation ,half the gangsters parents use with their children !

Very True Tashkajones! I think parents in those areas has to KNOW that their kids are in danger of being hit up by these gangs, if they don't already know. At least  get a hold of their kid early  and put the right moral and ethic behind them, bolster their self esteem with good healthy things, and  good example versus bad ones.  "unposion" their head before it gets to be posioned. To move would be the best thing but not always easy.

Watching some of the programs about prisons and inmates lives on such as Discovery and History Channels can be really scary.  We watched "Shawshank redemption" the other night and those guys were really pikers.  The gangs work just as well inside the walls as they do outside.  The connections are tremendous, and the racial gangs really hate each other, and whites too.

A few years ago, we went camping up at Brite Lake near Tehachapi.  We were getting settled about dusk, when an old school bus pulled in.  We were a little nervous, as it had American Flags for curtains, and much hippie art on the outside.  A bushy haired guy got out and came running over to us.  He said, what time are visiting hours?  It took us a few minutes to realize he was talking about the prison, but no problems occurred, and it was just funny.  Since then though, the prison has tripled in size and I know the demographics of Tehachapi have changed.  As has the world.

I don't think that prison locality contributes to gang activity. 

However, working in the field (so to speak) and having family that reside in Tehachapi, I can tell you there is a HUGE gang and drug problem in Tehachapi - they are not exempt from the problem.

Three main factors contribute to growing gang activity (in general, in no particular order and weaved in with many others). 

1 - Location that the kids live -  In certain neighborhoods, if you don't follow a certain crowd - or gang in this instance - it can in fact lead to death.  Of you or your family.  I know we don't like to recognize this to be fact; but no matter what some of us believe, it is fact.  The reason this is a problem with youth is due to the impressionability.  They want and need to "fit in" and will listen to practically any older person that is not their guardian.  A 23 year old can talk almost any high school student into just about anything outside of typical chores.  That and the fact that most of them don't live past "youth". 

2 - The popular belief by these kids that these acts gain them respect - Gang hierarchy is not unsimilar to pyramid industries.  The more you do, the more you move up and the more respect you have from your peers.  The message that needs to be sent to children before they stop listening in school - oh, say 5 years old - is that these peers are foolish to believe that this is actually a respectable profession.  I say profession in the fashion that they don't have other jobs and they make a killing (no pun intended).

3 - Economics - As long as it is really hard to find a good job, as long as they can make more money selling drugs at age 12 than flippin burgers at age 15, as long as drug sales turn into turf wars, this problem will continue to grow.   

The gang problems are complex. If it wasn't we wouldn't have the problem that exist today and this could be fixed. I have no idea how to fix it. Jail doesn't scare these kids in fact if they do time they come out with status. Prevention and strict parent involvement is a start.

I was at my mom's house Saturday and there were two Sheriffs accross the street questioning the tenants. It's crazy to remember that those gangsters were just cute little kids when I was visiting my mom about ten years ago.

I don't think the prisons are the problem. I think it's just that the new generations are finally growing up and they are no longer cute and cuddly. They are scary and dangerous.

Well, Delano and McFarland never had that much of problem like they do now. 

Loadie: Tehachapi is not known as hotbed for drug activity as is Delano and McFarland.  In fact, back in the day Earlimart (next town up after Delano) was known as the through point where all of the cocaine would pass.  So, you have some merit there.  Also, both towns populations exploded after the prisons went in.  Plus, like the article said, it's the border between the north and the south.

Want to make it better...make prison someplace where it is not a country club to these fools.  Same old arguement about that, but look at Joe Arpaio.  No one want to go back to jail over there.  San Bernandino tried the same thing, and because some idiot judge decided that prisoners have the right to sue, they were sued the next day for "cruel and unusual punishment".  So, take away the rights, perks and privilege's, and they won't think so much about going back.  Oh, and serve the sentences they are given, no early release.

It probably does contribute somewhat, but it just depends on the area.  Then again, I know virtually nothing about the dynamics of prison communities.  All I know is that we are in severe need of an effective approach to the issue. 

I don't think that inmates family's contribute a whole lot to the gang problems in small towns. In Tehachapi there's a huge prison and you don't hear of much of a gang problem up there.

We have a problem.

That makes sense. Delano has 2 prisons. The inmate's family (which in some cases are also ciriminals) move there to be close to their beloved family.

Bakersfield should be happy they didn't get mentioned. The gangs in Delano and McFarland are worse relatively speaking considering the size of the towns.