UNDERSTAND YOUTH GANGS A Guide for Helping Parents and Teachers

WHAT IS A GANG? A group motivated by violence or illegal activity, such as: Drug trafficking Auto theft Weapon trafficking Violent behaviors Territorial gangs control a geographical area Organized or corporate gangs have a hierarchy and definite leadership Gangs have an agreed upon a common behavior

DEFINITION OF THE TERM “GANG” A youth gang is a self-formed association of peers having three or more members, generally ages 12 to 24. A delinquent youth gang is a loosely structured group of young people (mostly juveniles) who “hang out” together. The group has a name and typically members have developed identifying signs such as similar clothing styles, colors and/or hand signs. Members engage in delinquent or undesirable behavior with enough frequency to attract negative attention from law enforcement and/or school officials. Institute for Intergovernmental Research: National Youth Gang Center, 2003 Jacksonville, Texas Police Department

HISTORY OF GANGS Started in the early 19 th century as Europeans flocked to America Many early gangs were comprised of white immigrants in New York City First formed to act as thieves and pickpockets Divided among racial lines Became increasingly violent

“Two factors mark the major differentiation between earlier violent gangs and today’s violent gangs: the intensified commerce of drugs and the violence that surrounds the drug business, and the enormous increase in the availability of lethal automatic weapons that are used in gang murders.” Yablonsky (1997)

ARE GANGS REALLY A CONCERN? In a 1999 report, Juveniles accounted for 17% of all arrests 16% of all violent crime arrests, including aggravated assault, forcible rape and weapons arrests* Police counted more than 24,500 gangs in the US in There are more than 750,000 gang members in the United States Nearly half of all large cities reported an increase in gang activity from Picture by Robert Yager * OJJDP report (Snyder and Sickmund, 1999) + National Youth Gang Center

GANG DEMOGRAPHICS Gangs cross all ethnic, gender, racial and socioeconomic boundaries According to a 2001 National Youth Gang Center survey: 94% Male 49% Latino/Hispanic 34% African American 10% Caucasian 6 % Asian

RISK FACTORS FOR GANG MEMBERSHIP Risk factors predictive of gang membership include: Prior and/or early involvement in delinquency, especially violence and drug use Problematic parent-child relations Low school attachment and academic achievement Association with peers who engage in delinquency Disorganized neighborhoods in which large numbers of youth are in trouble Hill, Lui, & Hawkins (2001) and Thornberry et al. (2003) as cited on the National Youth Gang Center (2003) Web site

WHAT LEADS TO GANG INVOLVEMENT Lack of personal identity Lack of appropriate alternatives and/or activities Peer pressure Need for safety/security (protection) Absence of parental involvement or demonstrated concern Membership by other family members or friends Substance abuse by youth and/or parents Lack of opportunity for recreation or employment Poor academic achievement Sporadic attendance at school Landre, Miller, Porter (2001)

WHY ARE KIDS GETTING INVOLVED? A sense of identity, respect and/or power Recognition and attention Need for protection History of family gang involvement Discipline Love Money Landre, Miller, Porter (2001)

SIGNS OF GANG ACTIVITY Sudden poor grades and disinterest in school Withdrawal from family activities Use of gang slang Sudden change in friends/friends in trouble at school or with the law Evidence of drug/alcohol use Sudden affluence Use of hand signs Desire for excessive privacy

SIGNS OF GANG ACTIVITY Having a new nickname Developing a bad attitude toward family, school, authorities Staying out later than usual Purchasing clothing of all one color/style Wearing altered head gear Change in appearance – special haircuts, eyebrow markings, tattoos

SIGNS OF GANG ACTIVITY Possession of pagers by friends of children Increase in accidents as evidenced by injuries Increase in vandalism and/or violent activity Possession of permanent markers or spray paint cans

GANG SIGNS Power Blood Crip Harlem Crip Bounty Hunters Brims Black Stone East Athens Park BoysMafia Crip Hoover Crip

WALL GRAFFITI

NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF GANG MEMBERS

CONSEQUENCES OF GANG INVOLVEMENT Risk of physical injury, disabling injury or death Constant fear of physical danger Probability of committing a crime as an initiation rite Obtaining a criminal record Incarceration in a juvenile and possibly an adult institution Permanent tattoos Financial hardship, emotional distress, physical injury and possible death to family Risk of AIDS from homemade tattoos

HOW CAN YOU HELP DETER GANGS? Know the signs of gang activity. Talk with your children/students about the dangers of gangs. Share your values; tell children/students about the violence, drugs and likelihood of imprisonment if they become involved in gangs. Teach your children how to deal with peer pressure and how to say “no” to friends. Establish and enforce acceptable rules and expectations for your children's behavior. Make education a priority; do everything possible to keep your child/students in school, including showing an interest in their schoolwork and developing regular study habits.

HOW CAN YOU HELP DETER GANGS? Spend time with your children/students and listen to and respect their feelings and attitudes. Do not tolerate the use and/or presence of drugs, alcohol or cigarettes by your children/students or their friends. Encourage kids to get involved in activities such as sports, clubs and church groups. Know your child's friends and contact their parents from time to time. Help children/students identify positive role models – and be one yourself. Praise their positive behavior often, and in front of others; don't allow yourself to become too judgmental about their choices, and allow for mistakes or disagreements.

HOW CAN YOU HELP DETER GANGS? Join with other parents, school administrators and police to combat gang activity. Implement a “zero tolerance” policy for gangs in your home and school. Help your children/students to become knowledgeable contributing citizens. If you need to, check your children’s rooms for drugs, money and weapons. Ensure that your community provides adequate and appropriate recreational activities for youth and families and participate in them.

WHAT CAN COMMUNITIES DO? Get organized and show gangs that your neighborhood has zero tolerance for their activities. Your community has many resources who can work together against gangs, including law enforcement, civic groups, religious congregations, schools, youth agencies, Boys & Girls Clubs, YM/YWCA, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, drug treatment services and community centers. Develop positive alternatives – after-school, weekend and summer activities where children and teens can learn, expand their world, and have fun.

WHAT CAN COMMUNITIES DO? Encourage parents to talk to one another through school forums, social events, networks, parenting classes and support groups. Cooperate with police and other agencies. Report suspicious activity, set up a Neighborhood Watch or citizen patrol, or volunteer to clean up graffiti. National Crime Prevention Council, Washington, D.C.

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