FACULTY OF LAW DEANS OFFICE TIENSESTRAAT 41 3000 LEUVEN Academic year 2013 - 2014 Mareros and pandilleros in Honduras: the reintegration of youth gang members Promoter: Prof. S. PARMENTIER Co-promoter: dr. B. VAN WIJNENDAELE Dissertation, presented by ELLEN VAN DAMME, for the final examination of the degree of MASTER OF CRIMINOLOGICAL SCIENCES Abstract The focus of this dissertation is on the reintegration of youth gang members in Honduras. The aim of this qualitative research is to broaden the knowledge of reintegration processes and programs in one specific country in Central America, namely, Honduras. A sample of fourteen interviews with stakeholders in the field of maras and pandillas is being investigated and the results revealed some similarities between the different methods of reintegration. Our data suggest that a comprehensive process, including the family, school, community, and governmental support via social politics is necessary to give the youngster a platform where he can reintegrate himself into society, and refrain from committing any criminal behavior. However, most respondents agreed upon the fact that leaving a gang is very difficult and includes high risks, the most infringing being assassination. Most stakeholders call for more investment in prevention at an early stage, i.e. before a youngster gets related to a gang. Acknowledgements This dissertation is made possible with the help of many people, which I would like to thank. First of all I want to thank my promoter, Prof. dr. Stephan Parmentier and co-promoter, dr. Barbara Van Wijnendaele, for their guidance and enthusiasm throughout this dissertation. I would also like to express my gratitude towards the University Arbitration Committee on Risk Destinations, which approved my research application. Furthermore, I would like to thank all respondents I interviewed in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. I am very grateful for their cooperation and friendliness. A special thanks to IUDPAS in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The University institute facilitated me during most of my interviews in Honduras. I want to thank Dir. Migdonia Ayestas for welcoming me at IUDPAS and Ronny Barahona for facilitating the contacts with key figure respondents in Honduras. Finally, I would like to thank the family Macedo Hernandez who hosted me during my time in Tegucigalpa. I am very grateful for their hospitality and care. I Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ I List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................... IV List of annexes ............................................................................................................................. VI 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 2. Literature review .................................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Maras and Pandillas in Central America ................................................................................. 3 2.1.1 The rise of maras and pandillas in Central America ......................................................... 4 2.1.2 The phenomenon of gangs in Central America.................................................................. 5 2.2 The situation in Honduras ....................................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 The political situation in Honduras ................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 The socio-economic situation in Honduras ..................................................................... 16 2.3 Criminological theories of gangs ............................................................................................ 17 2.3.1 Socio-ecological theories ................................................................................................. 17 2.3.2 Anomie theories ............................................................................................................... 18 2.3.3 Social process theories .................................................................................................... 20 2.3.4 Theories on risk factors ................................................................................................... 23 2.4 Rehabilitation – reintegration ................................................................................................. 25 2.4.1 Definitions ........................................................................................................................ 25 2.4.2 Criminological theories of rehabilitation/reintegration .................................................. 26 2.4.3 Rehabilitation/reintegration in Honduras ....................................................................... 32 2.4.4 Good and bad practices of rehabilitation/reintegration interventions ............................ 36 3. Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 38 3.1 Definition of the central problem ............................................................................................ 38 3.1.1 Research topic and objectives .......................................................................................... 38 3.1.2 Description of the research questions.............................................................................. 38 3.2 Conceptual framework ............................................................................................................ 39 3.3 Research design ...................................................................................................................... 41 II 3.3.1 Research method .............................................................................................................. 41 3.3.2 Sampling process ............................................................................................................. 42 3.3.3 Data collection ................................................................................................................. 43 3.3.4 Data analysis ................................................................................................................... 44 3.3.5 Quality of research .......................................................................................................... 45 4. Interview results ...................................................................................................................... 46 4.1 Gang involvement ................................................................................................................... 47 4.2 Leaving the gang ..................................................................................................................... 51 4.2.1 (Personal) reasons to leave the gang............................................................................... 51 4.2.2 Ways of leaving the gang ................................................................................................. 54 4.2.3 Difficulties of leaving the gang ........................................................................................ 57 4.3 Reintegration into society ....................................................................................................... 60 4.3.1 Community based ............................................................................................................. 60 4.3.3 Psychological treatment ................................................................................................... 65 4.3.4 Medical treatment ............................................................................................................ 67 4.3.5 Vocational training and employment ............................................................................... 68 5. Discussion................................................................................................................................. 70 5.1 Discussion of results ............................................................................................................... 70 5.2 Limitations of research and recommendations for further investigation ................................ 76 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 78 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 80 Annexes ........................................................................................................................................ 88 Annex 1: Principles of effective prevention and correctional treatment through direct service (Andrews, 1995) ........................................................................................................................... 88 Annex 2: Cuestionario de entrevista (original version topic list) ................................................. 89 Annex 3: Topic list (English version) ..........................................................................................