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What are gangs?Gangs are groups of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose and commit violent, unlawful or criminal activities. Today's street gangs may claim control over a certain territory in their community, and creat an atmosphere of fear and intimidation there. Gangs are often involved with narcotics and stolen property, which brings them a profit.
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Who joins gangs?Gang members generally range in age from 13-21 years old, but can be as young as 9 years old. Those who join gangs often have low self-esteem, feel unloved at home, do porely in school, and have a hard time making decisions and communicating with others. Many come from single-paren homes. Most gang members are boys, but 10% of all gang members are girls and the number is growing.
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Why do kids join gangs?Kids join for many reasons, and each case is individual. However reasons can include: excitement and fun, a sense of belonging, companionship, peer pressure, attention or status, financial gain, intimidation, protection, and failure to realize what being in a gang means. Living in a gang-infested area or having a family member in a gang increases the possibility of a kid joining one.
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What risk factors lead to gang membership?Among the risk factors are:
- lack of adequate community youth support systems
- too much unsupervised time
- poverty
- lack of self-worth
- poor decision-making and communication skills
- domestic violence at home
- media that glorifies violence
- parent denial of gang problem
Gang membership can also be considered a form of survival, if living in a gang-infested community.
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What are the dangers of being in a gang?Gangs often have guns and drugs, exposing kids to the dangers of both. Members can be seriously hurt or killed during gang fights or criminal acts. Gang membership can also hamper education, since schools are viewed negatively by gangs. Extensive police records limit future employment opportunities. Families of gang members also face danger for their own safety from feuding gang members.
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How big is the problem of gangs?Experts and kids themselves know the gang problem is growing, with gangs networking across the U.S.A. rather than being confined to certain communities as in the past. And older gang members recruit younger ones to do their criminal acts, including drug trafficking and shootings. The average age of a shooter in a street gang is now 9-11 years old.
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How can you help with the gang problem?Stay informed, involved and aware. Help your children choose to refuse gang membership by becoming more involved in their lives, by building ther self-esteem at home, and by working to combat the gang problem in your community. Call the 1-888-ENG-GANG hotline when you observe suspicious or gang activity. Get to know your community.
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What are some of the warning signs of possible gang involvement?Below are some of the warning signs of possible gang involvment. You should look for multiple signs to indicate possible gang involvement because some of these indicators alone, such as clothes or musical preferences, are also common among youth not invovled in gangs.
- Admit's to "hanging out" with kids in gangs
- Shows an unusual interest in one or two particular colors of clothing or a particular logo
- Has an unusual interest in gangster-influenced music, videos, movies or websites.
- Uses unusual hand signals to communicate with friends
- Has specific drawings or gang symbols on school books, clothes, walls or tattoos
- Comes home with unexplained physical injuries (fighting-related bruises, injuries to hand/knuckles)
- Has unexplained cash or goods, such as clothing or jewelry
- Carries a weapon
- Has been in trouble with the police
- Withdrawal from family activities
- Use of unknown vocabulary (gangs have many slang words)
- Sudden change in friends
- Staying out later than usual, without reason
- Declining shool attendance, performance, behavior
- Displaying an unusual desire for secrecy
- Exhibits signs of drug use
- Breaking rules consistantly
- Changing appearance with special haircuts, eyebrow markings or tattoos
- Having a new nickname
- Wearing altered headwear (gang members often put gang information on the inside band of ball caps.
- Unusual use of specific letters or numbers worn on belts, hats or written on personal items (gang members will use specific numbers that represent letters of the alphabet for abbreviations)
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What can parents do to prevent gang involvement?
- Spend quality time with your child
- Get involved in your childs school activities
- Be a positive role model and set the right example
- know your child's friends and their families
- Encourage good study habits
- Teach your child how to cope with peer pressure
- Help your child develop good conflict/resolution skills (see www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/conflict.asp)
- Encourage your child to participate in positive afterschool activities with adult supervision (recreation centers, organized sports, youth groups)
- Take action in your neighborhood (create a neigborhood alliance, reprot and remove graffiti)
Talk with your child about the dangers and consequences of gang involvement. Let your child know that you don't want to see him or her hurt or arrested. Explain to your child that he or she SHOULD NOT:
- Associate with gang members
- Attend parties or social events sponsored by or attended by gang members
- Use hand signs, symbols, or language that is meaningful to gangs
- Wear clothing, including specific colors, which may have meaning to gangs in your area
- Don't hang out on the street or in areas where gangs are active
- Don't take part in writing graffiti or hand around walls marked with it
- Don't approach individuals in cars who seemingly want information
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