Chicago crime continues to make national headlines, as massive shootings are now the norm for the Windy City. So why is this happening?

A former gang investigations officer shared his insight with us exclusively, and explained why it’s going to take an entire city—not just law enforcement—to find a solution.

For security reasons, we can't reveal the officer's name. While he is no longer a part of the gang investigations division, many cases he worked on are still open, therefore, concern for his safety will escalate if his name becomes public. We will refer to him as Ryan.

Why is there so much gang related violence in Chicago, and how long has this been an issue for the city?

Ryan: It’s been going on for a long time. To pinpoint one reason why is tough to say. Gang life and gang activity have been around Chicago for a while. It stems back to the original gangsters like Al Capone. Then, newer aged gangs developed in the neighborhoods around the late 60s. Chicago is still a very segregated city, which is part of the issue. You live in a certain neighborhood, African Americans live in a certain neighborhood, Puerto Ricans, Mexican-American’s—they all live in separate areas. With the city being so segregated, people rarely leave the neighborhood.  They are prisoners within their four block by four block area.  Since the kids seldom leave, they will be polarized to some of the elements within that neighborhood, specifically gang life.  There are success stories of kids that grow up to do great things, but a lot fall victim to crime and gangs.  In their eyes, the whole world is that neighborhood. So a lot of these kids are born and raised into gang violence. I remember doing search warrants on houses, and cribs and baby toys were all tagged up in their gang symbols. You see brothers, moms, dads all part of a gang, and it’s just a circle of life. We have a very high shooting and homicide rate, and the gangs create a lot of problems. They entice vulnerable, at-risk kids to join them, and then what are they going to do after they graduate high school if they make it that far? It’s very difficult to find a job and get hired, so what are they going to do? They’re going to rely on their family, which is the gang life. So there are a lot of different factors. They put a lot of money into the police, but it’s a further deep-rooted problem other than just the police.

So you’re saying other people and organizations besides law enforcement need to get involved in order to get the violence under control?

Ryan: Yes. The neighborhood environment, their mentality and the family structure need to change. There are a lot of broken homes and single mothers. They have to work, so who is going to watch the kids? They can’t afford daycare and the kids are out roaming the streets. They’re going to be magnetized to the gang life because they believe that’s going to be their family. They think that’s who loves them and they’re going to gravitate towards the gang members who give them money and food. That’s their sense of love and there’s going to be a loyalty there. These young kids who are joining a gang believe life expectancy is just 30-years-old. If you’ve made it to that age, you’ve done quite well.

You mentioned that some of these kids will be lucky if they graduate high school. Are there gangs in the schools?

Ryan: Yes, they do go to school. The gang life goes right into the school system. They’re not uneducated. They’re very smart as far as street sense goes. Many drop out though around 16-years-old. Unfortunately, gangs do get brought into schools. It’s sad. I love Chicago and I love the Chicago Police Department, but it’s an uphill battle.

Rahm Emanuel, the mayor of Chicago, has said part of the problem with guns in the city is that adjacent states have weaker gun laws, and that’s contributing to the issue. Will tougher gun laws help?

Ryan: No, I don’t think so. There are gun laws on the books and they are actually very strict. We need to enforce the laws that we already have. The Chicago police are taking thousands of guns off the streets, and these guns are in the hands of felons. They get them in a variety of ways. You have people with clean records buying guns for them, so basically making stricter gun laws I don’t believe is going to do anything. Let’s enforce the laws we have now. Judges have been very lenient with their sentencing in past years, but they are starting to be a little bit harsher. They passed a law a few years back called the Valadez law. Valadez was an officer who worked in the Englewood district on the South Side of Chicago. He was shot and killed by a felon who was on probation for gun charges. He was investigating a shooting when someone did a drive by. The Valadez law gives mandatory prison time to a gang member who is in possession of a gun in a public place. Prior to that, you could be a felon or a very violent and bad person, be in possession of a weapon and just get probation. We would see that everyday in the county court system. They’ve got to sentence these guys.

What areas should people stay away from when visiting?

Ryan: The West Side of Chicago has a lot of decent people and families there. There are even some police officers that live in that area. Police have a vested interest in Chicago to make it into a safe city, because we have to live within city limits—but the West Side is up for grabs. The South Side is up for grabs, especially around Englewood. Unfortunately, it’s starting to go everywhere in the city. When the projects in Cabrini-Green were demolished due to increased crime activity and high profile brutal gang violence that was attracting national attention, the city had to find new areas for these people to live. The residents were slowly transferred to other areas, but in doing so, gang members were also relocated and put into neighborhoods where there wasn’t gang activity before. If you’re going to visit, take precautions and avoid the West Side and a lot of the South Side.

Is it intentional for gang members to shoot and kill innocent bystanders? Why do kids and people who aren’t associated with gangs have to suffer the consequences of their violent behavior?

Ryan: I believe they’re at the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s actually considered to be bad publicity for them when someone who isn’t affiliated with a gang mistakenly gets caught up in their war. When an innocent person or child is shot or killed, police swarm the area and that’s bad for business. There is still a code. You’re not supposed to kill children and women, but if you see a member of a rival gang you’re going to shoot. A lot of these guys don’t take shooting practice. They’re not at the range trying to craft their skill. They’re going to spray and shoot. The bullets are going to go somewhere. Unfortunately they go through houses and walls and hit innocent people.

Can you elaborate on their business and how they make money?

Ryan: The number one source of their income is going to be through drug dealing. It’s rampant. You’ve got open-air drug markets. On the West Side it’s heroin, and on the South Side it’s crack, and some heroin too. They make a lot of money, and they don’t want the police to be around. And if an innocent person gets shot and killed, like I said, the police will swarm the area. Whatever gang carried out the shooting will pay the consequences for it.

Do you see the gang problem getting better anytime soon?

Ryan: No, I don’t. It’s going to be a long, long haul. Help has got to come from everywhere. It’s got to come from the police, the school system, volunteers and mentoring systems. They need to get money from the city and the city doesn’t have it.

How can someone help?

Ryan: I’m very pro volunteer work, but eventually volunteers go home and leave the neighborhood. I think we’ve got to get to the kids at an early age. There are things to live for other than dealing drugs. It’s tough, and I don’t have the answer as to what we can do. There is a program called CeaseFire. It’s a volunteer network where former gang members try to mentor and make peace within the gangs to stop the violence. The unfortunate thing is there are still a few active members working with CeaseFire who are giving it a bad name, because they’ve been arrested for narcotics, domestic violence, and weapons charges. The program fundamentally is a very good program though. I think we need get to these kids early on before they’re teenagers. You have to get to them as young children through park programs, sports...just programs to get them out of the neighborhood or away from the gang life. They need to see there is a bigger world.

How to Volunteer

While the situation does seem grim, some organizations are fighting back instead of giving up. Children are in need of role models and community support. If you have the passion and time to volunteer long-term to provide continual positive reinforcement as a mentor to at-risk kids, there are several programs that need you. However, it's strongly suggested that you volunteer for at least one full school year.

If you can’t devote a significant amount of time, but still want to get involved somehow, there are opportunities for you as well such as assisting with fundraisers and chaperoning field trips.

Here are a few organizations to check out!

1. Big Shoulders Fund

The Big Shoulder Fund gives assistance to Catholic schools in the inner-city by offering scholarships to kids financially in need, and programs that create a positive impact on the community.

Volunteer opportunities include mentoring, tutoring, coaching sports teams and if you’re knowledgeable about the stock market, teaching students about finance is another way to give back.

Short-term projects include fundraising, painting, cleaning and beautifying schools.

**A background check is performed before working with children.

For more information, click here.

2.Bounce for Joy Project

BFJP is a unique organization that teaches kids to relieve stress and anxiety through physical activity. Certified trainers work with children in a fitness program with inflatable bouncers.

In addition, the non-profit offers mentoring programs that coach the at-risk youth on how to deal with anger management, under the direction of a PH.D doctor.

**A background check will be performed before a volunteer is accepted.

For more information, click here.

3. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago

There are two types of programs to choose from. Here’s the information offered from their website:

Community Based Mentoring: Volunteers are matched with a child between the ages of 7 and 14, to form a mentoring relationship. During outings, 'Bigs' and 'Littles' do every-day activities that provide children with the opportunity to discover a world of possibilities for their life. The time commitment for this program is 2-4 outings per month, done on your own schedule, for a minimum of one year. Volunteers must own a car for this program.

Site Based Mentoring: Volunteers are matched with a child from a partner school or Boys and Girls Club to form a mentoring relationship. 'Bigs' and 'Littles' attend program meetings at the designated site. The children in the program range from 7 to 14 years of age. Matches engage in individual match activities and group games, and activities that support a child’s confidence, competence, and caring. The time commitment for this program is typically 2-4 times per month, for 1-1 ½ hours per outing, for a minimum of a school year. A Big Brothers Big Sisters staff person is always there to facilitate the Site Based sessions.

**A background check is performed before a volunteer is approved to become a mentor.

For more information, click here.

4. Cabrini Connection

Cabrini Connections serves as a tutoring program for economically challenged students who are in grades 7th-12th.

Volunteers are expected to tutor kids for two hours a week, and it’s encouraged to mentor on weekends if possible.

**A background check is performed before a volunteer is approved to become a mentor.

For more information, click here

5. YMCA of Metro Chicago

There are various projects to volunteer for at the Y that range from coaching a youth sports team, to clerical work.

In addition, there are short-term and group projects available as well.

**A background check will be performed before a volunteer is accepted.

For more information, click here

6. Build

There are several opportunities to volunteer with Build that include mentoring, tutoring, and coaching a sports team.

Short-term projects like fundraising, chaperoning a field trip, and providing pro bono expertise are also available.

**You must be finger printed, and go through a background check before working with kids.

For more information, click here.

7. New Life Centers

New Life Centers is a Christian non-profit that helps areas throughout the city in need of a model for gang intervention and after-school programs for at-risk youth. NLC encourages entire neighborhoods to get involved and serve in anyway to assist in transforming their community.

Volunteers are needed to mentor, tutor, teach (various subject like art, financial services, computers, etc.), coach sports teams, and assist with a weekly Bible study.

Short-term opportunities include umpiring a game, keeping score, setting up the field, planning events, and helping to give food away to people in need at New Life Centers.

**A background check is performed before working with children.

For more information, click here.

8. StandUp for Kids

StandUp for Kids is a nationwide organization that helps homeless children in several cities across the country.  Chicago has severely impoverished neighborhoods where many at-risk children live and wander the streets. They’re likely to turn to gang members who give them food and support, so it’s important to work with them as much as possible before that happens.

Outreach opportunities are available. 16 hours of training will be provided before volunteers perform their duties working with kids on the streets.

In addition, you can provide meals for the homeless teens, help them find the right school for their needs, advocate on their behalf, research and prepare grants for the non-profit, assist in designing brochures and posters, fundraise, and much more.

Here are the volunteer requirements, which are also listed on their website:

To work directly with homeless youth, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, consent to a criminal background investigation ($15 processing fee), and be able to provide three character references.

**For volunteers who want to work strictly "behind the scenes," a background check is not required (except for Executive Directors).

Volunteers who are between 16-18 years of age may volunteer with the program only with signed parental consent, a background investigation, and three character/leadership references; this may not apply to street outreach or outreach center counselors (at the discretion of each program's leadership committee).

For more information, click here.