Central America's maras, under the same lens

Over the past ten years, youth gangs have taken on special relevance in Central America, becoming both a problem of public security and a topic of concern for government and Central Americans. Even so, according to many experts, there is still much that remains unknown about them. The study “Maras y Pandillas, Comunidad y Policia en Centroamérica” (Maras and Pandillas, Community and Police in Central America, as its translates to English) came to fill that gap in scientific knowledge, offering research over a solid empirical basis.

Our goal is to help foster wider and more productive public debate,” said sociologist and project director José Alberto Rodríguez Bolaños. The study, financed by the Swedish Agency for International Development (Asdi) and the Central American Bank of Economic Integration (BCIE) that aims to contribute with efficient policies and actions to address current problems and violence prevention.

The director of the project states that the study included a number of different investigative techniques, surveys, in-depth interviews, psicometric instruments and observation, in all, over 3000 people were surveyed from different sectors. Among the latter are pandilleros (members of youth gangs) former pandilleros, members of maras, and their family relations, at-risk youth, police officers, victims, neighbors, members of the judicial system, opinion makers, and businessmen.

“What is particularly important in this case is the fact that the study covers Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. And that in all these nations we used the same research tools, which allowed us to make comparative analysis”, said Bolaños.

Comparative analysis

Another important aspect of this study is that all the information as analyzed systematically, “which allows us a more integrated understanding of the phenomenon,”added Bolaños. The study addresses, for example how the maras create communities that cater to emotional needs of youths, communities that give youths an identity, a sense of meaning in their lives in face of limited opportunities.

“There are data on how these groups organize themselves, the role of women, as well as how they adapt to their surroundings. We also included a review of the various repressive policies adopted in the region”, said the sociologist Bolaños.

With respect to the various activities of the mara youths, the study confirms that they involve themselves in both criminal and non-criminal activities. “It is particularly interesting that a number of these youths have regular paid jobs, “said Bolaños. The researcher stresses the fact that mara members spend a good part of their time in group activities that are common in their age group, “on the other hand, it is clear that there is a propensity for activities that involve violence, and extortion.

The study also analyses how the activities of the maras and the pandillas affect the communities around them, and  families of these youths. “In this sense, it is evidently a complex situation, since the pandilleros will continue to create emotional and functional bonds with members of the wider community and their families, despite the fact that they involve themselves in activities that will bring these people harm,” said Bolaños.

Police, Community and Pandillas

As far as the power of the state is concerned, the study reveals a sense of insatisfaction with respect to police actions, a disatisfaction that is shared by members of the communities, of the young mara  and pandilla members, and even,  among police officers themselves.

“This disatisfaction is associated, often, to the suspicion of corruption in the police force. There is also a climate of mutual distrust between police officers and the community,”said Bolaños. With  factors such as these to limit the effectiveness of police action, the researcher  stresses the role of policies that address violence prevention.

Finally, with respect to drop out rates, the study shows that although there are a number of myths concerning the impossibility of leaving a gang organization such as the maras, there are ways out. “Often the real difficulty has to do with the lack of any real options for youths, a lack of alternatives. Stigma and lack of opportunities are really what stop them from leaving,” said the researcher.

*photo provided by the Red Transnacional de Análisis sobre Maras.