What is a criminal gang?

A criminal gang is a group of three or more individuals who have a common identifying element such as a sign, symbol or name and whose members, with knowledge, individually or collectively commit, attempt to commit, engage in conspiracy to commit, or solicit another to commit criminal acts.

What is a street crew?

Similar to criminal gangs, street crews are also composed of three or more individuals who have a common identifying element such as a sign, symbol or name. However, street crews are primarily neighborhood based and generally commit crimes of opportunity. Although street crews typically lack a military style hierarchy characteristic of gangs, street crews exist within a framework of established rules and engage in rivalries with other neighborhood crews and criminal gangs.

What are youth gangs and why are they a major concern?

A youth gang is considered to be a group of three or more individuals between the age of 12 and 16, who engage in delinquent or criminal activity for the benefit of its members or to further the reputation of the gang. Similar to criminal gangs and street crews, youth gangs share a common identifying element and view themselves as members of the cohesive group.

 

Why do people join gangs?

Individuals join gangs or street crews for many reasons. Social scientists have identified a number of risk factors that contribute to the likeliness of why people join gangs, including:

Ø  Difficulty assimilating or inability to assimilate

Ø  Individual characteristics

Ø  Family situation

Ø  Environmental experiences (i.e. schools, prison)

Ø  Community conditions

Ø  Delinquent peers or group

Ø  Cultural conditions

In fact, gang membership often speaks to most adolescent needs: a need for affiliation, belonging, and status. Gangs provide the necessary audience for deeds of bravado and for positioning and strutting. In addition, a gang can provide a sense of family and of group membership by furnishing friends and camaraderie to unloved and often unwanted youngsters.

What are the warning signs of youth gang involvement?

Youth generally join a gang through a series of steps or phases. Many initially experiment with gang life by hanging out with gang members or participating in some gang activity. This early involvement, often referred to as the “wannabe” phase, when the youth exhibits his or her desire (want) to become (be) a member of the gang. Through time, some “wannabe” members become formal gang members.

After becoming a gang member, a youth may spend some time bridging their old school and family life with their new gang involvement, with “one foot” in each world. Over time, the youth increasingly focuses his or her life on gang involvement, abandoning or pushing away their “old” life. Much of the  youth’s time may be spent simply “hanging out” with other gang members, but eventually crime and violence play a larger part in their lives.

Warning signs of gang involvement include:

Ø  Increased issues at school, such as:

·         Falling grades

·         Attendance problems

·         Inappropriate language

·         Drawing of new and irregular sings/symbols on notebooks

Ø  Distinct observable behaviors, such as:

·         Violent or aggressive attitude

·         New friends

·         Hand-signs

·         Graffiti

·         Drug use

 

Ø  A presence of gang “hallmarks,” such as:

·         Tattoos

·         Unexplained money

·         Cuts and bruises

·         Weapons

 

Ø  Frequent access of gang-related media, such as:

·         Listening to pro-gang music

·         Accessing gang- and hate-oriented web sites

Why is graffiti a concern?

Gangs seek to establish their identity and control within a neighborhood or geographic area. One technique gang members use is graffiti. Gang graffiti is not art; it is a sophisticated method of communication that publicizes the gang’s power and status. It also marks the gang’s territory, sends messages, and warns intruders.

Gang members post warnings or challenges to other gangs through its graffiti. Its purpose is to create a climate of fear in a community and create conditions for conflict and violence between gangs that are seeking control of the same area.

Gang-related graffiti should be reported to the local police department to alert them to the presence of gang-related activity. In addition, communities often have programs to remove graffiti from physical structures.

 

Are criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking?

The largest misconception about gangs is that they are synonymous with drugs. While criminal gangs and street crews participate in the local distribution of drugs, they typically lack the strong organization and structure necessary to conduct large narcotic operations. Drug trafficking organizations often use multiple gangs, including youths, to distribute drugs.

What parents can do to help keep their child out of gangs?

One of the best ways to prevent your child from becoming involved with gangs is to remain active in their lives. Maintain open communication with your son or daughter so that you know who their friends are and how they spend their time. This can be a challenge, especially as adolescents strive to develop their independence; they can become angry at what they perceive as too much parental involvement. Parents must “stay the course” remaining as involved as possible in your son or daughter’s life and demonstrating love and concern for the challenges they are facing.

Actions you can take to help your child resist becoming involved in a gang include:

Ø  Be aware if your child is at risk of becoming involved in a gang or if he or she displays warning signs of gang involvement. Remember, the first step in helping your child is to identify conditions that could leave your child susceptible to gang involvement to resolve an existing problem in his or her life.

Ø  Communicate. Share your concerns about the possible gang involvement with your child. In many cases, especially early in the process of becoming a part of gang life, an adolescent can be redirected to more positive social networks. Remember, adolescence is a difficult time for most teenagers and is especially hard for those facing multiple risk factors.

Ø  Seek support from professionals. If your child is in school, a school counselor or principal pupil personnel worker can be an excellent resource for identifying programs available through the school system or community-based youth services that can help you. Many school- or community-based  programs support youth who are at risk for delinquency. These programs can provide many helpful resources, including:

·   Strategies to help your child become more successful academically

·   Strategies to help your child develop effective problem -solving techniques so he or she doesn’t feel a need to resort to violence or seek help from gangs

·   Techniques to help your family communicate more effectively and help you develop more effective parenting skills

·   Opportunities for positive alternative ways for your child to spend his or her free time, such as after school programs and recreation and job development programs.