Pesetas, Calmados and Hermanos: Initiatives of Desistance, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Gang Members in El Salvador

Authors

  • Luis Enrique Amaya Universidad Francisco Gavidia
  • Juan José Martínez Universidad Francisco Gavidia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5377/ryr.v49i49.8061

Keywords:

maras or gangs, former gang members, rehabilitation, reintegration, churches, public policies.

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to approach the pathways of “desistance” of gang members in El Salvador, in order to show the general panorama of the existing options and describe their essential characteristics.
The methodology is based on the application of two research techniques: literature review and in-depth interviews. Important categories of analysis are exposed with respect to former gang members, such as those of “calmado”, “retirado” and “peseta”, each of which proposes different scenarios and perspectives.
In addition, the role of the Government, the role of civil society (including Catholic and Evangelical churches, especially Pentecostal churches), the participation of the private sector and certain mechanisms of the gangs themselves are explored.
Ultimately, throughout the study underlies a consideration on “identity”, as it concerns the construction, deconstruction and eventual reconstruction of the identity, on a personal and group level, of the members and ex-members of maras or gangs.

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Author Biographies

Luis Enrique Amaya, Universidad Francisco Gavidia

Lic. en Psicología por la Universidad Centroamericana “José Simeón Cañas” (UCA). Investigador asociado del Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos sobre Inseguridad y Violencia (CELIV) de la Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), con sede en Argentina; del Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE), con sede en México, y del Instituto de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (ICTI) de la Universidad Francisco Gavidia (UFG), El Salvador.

Juan José Martínez, Universidad Francisco Gavidia

Licenciado en Antropología Sociocultural por la Universidad de El Salvador (UES). Investigador asociado de la American University, de la plataforma de investigación InSight Crime y del Instituto de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (ICTI) de la Universidad Francisco Gavidia (UFG), con sede en El Salvador.

Published

2019-06-30

How to Cite

Amaya, L. E., & Martínez, J. J. (2019). Pesetas, Calmados and Hermanos: Initiatives of Desistance, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Gang Members in El Salvador. Reality and Reflection, 49(49), 13–39. https://doi.org/10.5377/ryr.v49i49.8061

Issue

Section

Articles