Teen Gangs

Gang violence is intensifying, Drive-by shootings, assault, robbery, and murder are vicious gang activities in which innocent people are often hurt or killed.

Research has shown that, for the most part, gang-prone youths have lower levels of self-esteem and feel less in control of their lives than other youths of the same age. Young people join gangs to gain a sense of purpose, identity, and security; for peer support, status, acceptance, and validation.

More specific reasons, for joining a gang include:

• Coercion: Many gang members don't choose to join; they are forced into it (and once associated with a gang, it's difficult and potentially deadly to break away).

• Money: Even young children can earn hundreds of dollars by acting as lookouts or making drug and weapon deliveries. Money can be a real incentive to teens who live in poverty and want to contribute income to their families.

• Identity & Power: By becoming part of a large and feared group kids gain a sense of power, identity, and belonging. Gangs offer teens the chance to rebel against authority and gain a ready-made group of friends.

• Familiarity: Often a child joins a gang to emulate an older brother, cousin, or neighbors Gangs become a normal part of life.

• Unstable Home Life: The brotherhood and rules of a gang are appealing to a child who lacks a stable family life, community ties, clear values, firm rules.

• Limited Opportunity: When school involvement is unsatisfactory, unemployment is high and life seems to be going nowhere, a gang, with its chances for identity, community and money, looks pretty inviting.

Gang prevention efforts must be increased. According to Ira Reiner, District Attorney of Los Angeles "Simply put, we have to get to kids before they get into gangs. Once they are caught up in the violent world of the drug culture, they are, for the most part, lost forever."

The juvenile justice system may need to be changed in communities which give little attention to young children who commit the least serious offenses and the greatest attention to older kids who commit the most serious offenses.

Although increased police presence on the streets has been an effective strategy in some areas, prevention must involve the entire community. Individuals must become informed and active in community groups which share information with neighbors and law enforcement officials. The entire community should work with youth to provide alternatives to gang membership. These might include youth-oriented social services, recreation, volunteer opportunities, and job training.

Parents must become familiar with indicators of a child's potential or actual gang involvement such as major attitude problems at home or schools, poor achievement in school, resentment of authority, special nicknames, friends, and relatives in gangs, dressing in clique or gang attire, drug use.

Educators must also become informed about gangs, their territories, signs, etc. Behavior and dress codes should be used fairly, consistently, and with awareness. Graffiti should be removed immediately. Conflict prevention programs for students and relevant in service training for staff should be provided. Potential problems can often-be diffused by employing gang leaders as change agents."