Gang Family
Example
Previous
relationship
Current
Relationship
Ruby
71 years
Parents
Gang member
Current caregiver
of several young family
members
Parents
Previous
long-term
beneficiary
Previous
beneficiary
1st Generation
Ruby has nine children
Jo
49 years
Partner - Gang member
Gang Member
Husband-Gang member
Current
beneficiary
FV:victim
Current
beneficiary
Corrections
Key
Current
beneficiary
FV:victim
Corrections
Current
Previous
beneficiary beneficiary
FV:victim
Current
Current
Current
beneficiary beneficiary beneficiary
FV:victim
FV:victim
FV:offender
and offender Corrections Corrections
Chart:
Gang Family Example
Page two
FV Family Violence Alert
Corrections: Prison and/or Probation
Gang member
The information used to create this fictional example reflects GIC research into real gang-related families.
Current
beneficiary
FV:offender
Corrections
Gang Family Example
Page two
1st Generation
child of Ruby
Caregiver of
relative
Parents
Jo
49 years
Gang Member
Current beneficiary
FV:victim
Previous beneficiary
FV:offender/Serious Violence
Weapons/Agg Robbery/Firearms
Corrections
Corrections
2nd Generation
Seven children
Imprisonment as Youth - current
Gang member
Current
beneficiary
Current
beneficiary
FV: victim
FV: victim and
offender/Violence
Previous
beneficiary
FV: victim and offender/
Violence/Weapons
Current charges
Corrections / In Prison
Corrections
Mother
Mother
Gang member
Previous
beneficiary
Current
beneficiary
Previous
beneficiary
FV: offender/
Serious Violence
Agg Robbery
FV:victim and offender/
Violence/weapons
Corrections
Corrections
Corrections
Father
Serious Violence
Agg Robbery
Corrections / In Prison
Father
3rd Generation
12 children aged
1 - 17 years
Caregiver:
relative
Current
beneficiary
Father
Current
beneficiary
Key
FV Family violence alert
Corrections: Prison and/or Probation
Child included in current benefit
Gang member
Caregiver:
relative
FV: victim and
offender
Corrections
Father
Gang member
Previous
beneficiary
FV: offender
Violence/Agg Robbery
Protection Orders
Current charge
Corrections / In Prison
Father
Mother
Current
beneficiary
Current
beneficiary
FV: victim and
offender
FV: victim
Current charge
Corrections
The information used to create this fictional example reflects GIC research into real gang-related families.
Mother
Current
beneficiary
FV: victim and
offender/Violence
Current charges
Corrections
Mother
Current
beneficiary
FV: victim
Gang Family Example – description
This fictional Gang Family Example reflects the Gang Intelligence Centre's research into
real gang-related families.
Ruby
•
Ruby is in her early 70s. She has had nine children from two relationships. She has been a longterm beneficiary, and is currently the caregiver of several young children who are her family
members.
•
She is currently partnered to a gang member.
•
All of Ruby's 9 children have been beneficiaries. Eight are currently on a benefit, and one is now in
employment.
•
All five of Ruby's daughters have been victims of family violence. One is also a family violence
offender. Two of Ruby's sons are family violence offenders.
•
Five of Ruby's adult children have been in prison and/or on probation.
•
Two of her daughters are partnered to gang members and one son is a gang member.
•
Jo is one of Ruby's daughters. She is 49 and married to a gang member whose convictions include
family violence, serious violence, weapons, and aggravated robbery and firearms charges. Jo is a
victim of family violence.
•
Jo is a current beneficiary and is the current caregiver of a family member.
•
Jo and her partner have seven children.
•
Two of Jo's sons are gang members, one of whom has been imprisoned since his youth. A third
son is also in prison. Six of her seven children have been in prison and/or on probation.
•
Both of Jo's daughters and two of her sons are family violence victims and four of her children are
family violence offenders.
•
One of Jo's daughters was previously partnered to a gang member.
•
Six of Jo's seven children are or have been beneficiaries.
•
Of Jo's seven children, four have had children of their own. Jo's children were aged between 15
and 20 when their first child was born.
•
Jo's current 12 grandchildren are aged 1 to 17. The oldest grandchild is a current beneficiary and
three are in the care of family members other than their parents.
•
There are indications that several members of this family are committing benefit fraud by not
correctly declaring their circumstances.
•
There have been numerous additional offences committed across the generations.
Jo
12 grandchildren
•
The recent Treasury report, Characteristics of Children at Risk shows the factors that indicate
children are likely to lead difficult lives are:
o
a CYF finding of abuse or neglect
o
being supported by benefits for most of their lifetime
•
o
having a parent who has received a corrective sentence
o
having a mother with no formal qualifications
There is an enormous opportunity for New Zealand in identifying children of gang members and
their families, and reaching out to them with a coordinated cross-agency approach, so that they can
see and choose a more positive way of life than the generations that have gone before.