You are here:

Sociology/Expert Profile

Steven Valdivia

U.S.

Available

Expertise

Origins of gangs; causes of gangs; how a community evolves to violence and/or peace; new and workable solutions to gangs, riots and forms of community violence; psycho-social aspects of gang activity. Connection of gangs to riots and other community violence

Experience in the area

First gang czar in Los Angeles City and County - 1973-1995; National trainer, lecturer and educator for Dept of Justice and as consultant; invented Target Area Strategy (multi-agency interdisciplinary strategy) still used today; developed new paradigm based on continuum.

Organizations

Steven Valdivia is co-chair of the Peace and Non-Violence Research Group, Institute for Computing in Humanities, Arts and Social Science (I-CHASS), National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His book: “Forces Gangs to Riots. Evolution to Gangs, Riots and Back to Peace" is available at Amazon, etc.

Publications

Author, "Forces...Gangs to Riots...Evolution to Gangs, Riots and Back to Peace". Also articles in LA Times; Newsweek, Christian Science Monitor, guest on ABC Nightline...many others

Education/Credentials

Book Series: "Forces, Gangs to Riots..." Volumes 1,2 and 3. Certified expert NPG. Member of Sociology and Cyber-Infrastructure to Study and Combat Violence (HCSCV) Group, UIUC; numerous credentials in law enforcement and gang training.

Awards and Honors

Honored: US Congressional Record...too many to list including City and County of Los Angeles; LA County Sheriff, LAPD, LA Unified Schools, US Congress, State of California...

Past/Present Clients

National Assoc of District Attorneys; Law Enforcement Admin Assistance; LA County Interagency Gang Task Force...many others

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

Goal is to demystify gangs and community violence to make it solvable

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Gangs and riots are connected as outcomes...and are not causes of violence. And...there are only four types of gangs for which there are real solutions

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

The War on Gangs is an outcome of societal acts, policies and behaviors against a people(s) over time.

Average Ratings

Recent Reviews from Users

User	Date	K	C	P	Comments
angel	02/19/12	10	10	10	Thank you so much!!
christian	02/08/12	10	10	10	Your answer is useful.. I enjoyed it .....
Jane	02/07/12	9	10	10	thank you
John Christian	01/21/12	10	10	10
Arturo	12/04/11	10	10	10	Very knowledgeable response. Dr. Valdiva put a .....

Recent Answers from Steven Valdivia

2012-04-08 society:

Desperation is a relative experience. Some people may see an experience as desperate while others may not. The resolution or outcome may depend on many factors including state of mind, substance influences

2012-02-16 Socialization and the media:

Media has been used effectively in socialization, i.e., programming of people's beliefs, attitudes, morals and all that comes from these - which is everything. Studies are all we have as "proof". But many

2012-02-12 Fundamentals of Resources Mobilization:

To follow earlier answers, this is the traditional area where the structural problems manifest, i.e., strong and empowered vs weak and ill-equipped. Unfortunately the strong usually become so on the backs

2012-02-12 Fundamentals of Resources Mobilization:

To follow on the earlier answer, the initial steps include an honest and open assessment of deficiencies, resources needed and/or available to correct deficiencies and a mutually agreed plan of action

2012-02-12 Fundamentals of Resources Mobilization:

The key here is "for furtherance of a given goal". Community is everybody and the entities they own, represent and direct. This includes politicians that represent the interests of all and those in business

Sociology

Answers by Expert:

Browse Answers: