Psychology

The most effective solution to the question of what role psychologists play in the gang exit strategy is that of the counselor in a residential gang exit program. According to previous research by Spergel (2007), this is because residential programs are more effective at teaching former juvenile gang members the skills that they need, and giving them the support that they need so that they do not rejoin the gang in the future.  Counselors in these programs teach coping skills, stress management skills, and help former gang members to develop the support networks that they will need to replace the social support that they felt that they had within the gang social structure.

Counseling in the context of residential treatment is important for several reasons. The first reason is that if one wishes to help a former gang member sever all gang ties, they must be separated from the environment that caused them to join the gang to begin with. Spergel (2007), has argued that community based programs are ineffective because former gang members can still be threatened by other gang members, and they will still face discrimination from the community.

Counseling psychologists also play an important role in residential gang exit programs because they can help gang members to deal with the problems that caused them to join the gang to begin with. This is not only in terms of blatant behavior disorders such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder, but in terms of issues like lack of self esteem, or abuse related issues that may have made them vulnerable to gang recruiters. By helping juveniles to face their problems in a residential setting where they will not be criticized or discriminated against for their previous gang involvement, psychologists can help them learn how to be less vulnerable to the desire to rejoin their gang.

The final means by which psychologists may be helpful in a residential gang exit program is by providing the support that former gang members need in order to stay away from life in the gang. They do this by referring former gang members to needed educational and vocational training services, as well as by helping the former gang member develop a social support network that is not reliant upon the gang.