1. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Chapter 14 Youth Gangs

2. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Youth Gangs  A loose or formal collection of 12- to 24- year-olds who identify themselves as a common group, have a group name, wear group clothing, and use other group identifiers

3. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Female Gangs  Number of female members of male gangs and all-female gangs is steadily rising  Females involved in fewer violent crimes than males, more in property and status offenses  Number of female members of male gangs and all-female gangs is steadily rising  Females involved in fewer violent crimes than males, more in property and status offenses

4. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Common Identifiers  Names, colors, tattoos, insignias, language, hairstyles, jewelry, hand signs, graffiti

5. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Gang Membership  All large cities, most mid-sized cities, and many small cities have a significant gang presence  Rural communities report significant gang activity  All large cities, most mid-sized cities, and many small cities have a significant gang presence  Rural communities report significant gang activity

6. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Gang Membership and Criminal Behavior  A clear relationship between gang activity and criminal behavior exists  Youth gang members are more involved than non-gang members, even where non-gang members are high risk in other ways  A clear relationship between gang activity and criminal behavior exists  Youth gang members are more involved than non-gang members, even where non-gang members are high risk in other ways

7. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Risk Factors for Gang Membership  Early involvement in delinquency  Violence and drug use  Poor academic performance  Poor parent-child relationship  Disorganized neighborhood  Peers involved in gangs  Early involvement in delinquency  Violence and drug use  Poor academic performance  Poor parent-child relationship  Disorganized neighborhood  Peers involved in gangs

8. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Penalty Enhancement for Gang Membership  Most states have enhanced penalty provisions if the defendant is involved in a gang  These statutes require intent to engage in criminal enterprise  Gang membership qualifies juveniles as habitual juvenile offenders  Most states have enhanced penalty provisions if the defendant is involved in a gang  These statutes require intent to engage in criminal enterprise  Gang membership qualifies juveniles as habitual juvenile offenders

9. Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Controlling Gangs  Statutes are difficult to craft  Many states issue injunctions against gang activities  States apply anti-gathering, loitering, and anti-hazing laws to gangs, especially initiation rites  States require youths to register as gang members  Statutes are difficult to craft  Many states issue injunctions against gang activities  States apply anti-gathering, loitering, and anti-hazing laws to gangs, especially initiation rites  States require youths to register as gang members