Influences and Identifiers of Youth Gang Involvement

Developmental Needs • • • •

Safety Acceptance Sense of Belonging Meaningful Attachment

At-Risk Youth • Looking for: – Love – Protection – Identity

• Looking in the wrong places!

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Defining The Problem • Rather than the symptoms: – Alcohol, tobacco and other drug usage – Promiscuous behaviors – Anti-Social behaviors – Criminal activity – Gang membership – Hate groups membership

Value Youth by Offering Them: • • • • • • • • •

Sense of Identity/ Belonging Value Purpose Excitement Alignment with Strong Leaders Empowerment Answers Comradery Protection

Security Threat Groups • Formal or informal ongoing groups, gangs, organization or associations consisting of three or more members who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols. • A group whose members/associates engage in a pattern of gang activity or other criminal activity.

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What is a Gang? • Gangs – 3 or more members – Signs and symbols – Engage in criminal activity – Anti-Social agenda – Turf

• Hate Groups – Believe themselves superior to others – Use this belief to vilify and justify harm

Who Joins Gangs? • Recruits generally range in age from 12 to 24 years. • Most members are boys, but 10 percent of all gang members are girls. • All ethnic groups and income levels are represented, and gangs are found in all parts of the country. • Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of gang involvement.

Types of Gangs • Traditional gangs • Business/profit gangs • White supremacist gangs • Copy-cat gangs • Delinquent social gangs

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Gangs Grow Where: • Socializing agents are ineffective • There is an abundance of free and unstructured time • Youth have limited exposure and access to good jobs and careers • A place to congregate in a well-defined neighborhood

Crime and Gang Involvement 

Serious and Chronic Offenders Gang Leaders Illegal Gun and Drug Suppliers



Share of Illegal Activity

Other Active Gang Members and Associates Children and Adolescents at  High Risk for Gang Involvement



General Population of Youth and Families Living in High Risk Areas Relative Share of Population

Associated Risk Factors • Living in an area with a high level of gang activity, drug/alcohol use, available firearms. • Experiencing abuse. • Witnessing violence against family members. • Family members who are or were gang members. • Exposure to TV shows, movies, video-games and/or music that glorify violence.

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Associated Risk Factors (cont.) • Lack of supervised activities. • Lack of positive role models. • Low self-esteem and/or a sense of hopelessness about the future. • Poor school achievement. • Problematic child-parent relationship. • Lack of respect for authority.

Early Warning Signs • • • • • • •

Grades drop and skipping/truancy emerges History of discipline problems Lack of hobbies or too much leisure time Social withdrawal Drug and/or alcohol use Draws gang insignias/symbols Begins dressing in traditional gang clothes

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Early Warning Signs (continued) • Expression of violence in writings and drawings • Uncontrolled anger • Intolerance for differences and prejudicial attitudes • Possession of, and use of firearms • Serious treats of violence

Source: U.S. Department of Education

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Recruitment • Sweet talk • Peer pressure • Fear and intimidation

Gang Structure

Gang Structure (cont.)

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Gang Structure (cont.)

Gang Structure (cont.)

Beware of Labels

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Gang Initiation • • • •

Beat In Sexed In Born In Commission of Criminal Acts

Identifying Members • No assumptions! • Base identification on: – Close friend(s) or family member(s) are known gang member; – Clothing/Shoes – color, brand, style; – Flags, Bandanas, Beads and/or Hats; – Doodling and tagging (graffiti); – Observing scars, marks and tattoos; and/or – Self-identification – admission of membership.

Identifying Members (cont.) • Self-identification includes tattoos and brandings • Work with local law enforcement

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Possible Gang Indicators

Hand Signs

Signs and Symbols

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Gang Colors

Gang Indicators

Marketing to Gangs

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Boot Laces Color Code

New Recruit Full Membership Member who has “Proven” his/her Loyalty

Representing

CRIP TATTOOS

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BLOOD TATTOOS

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Latin Kings

Keystone United • Founded in 2001, under the name of Keystone State Skinheads. • Claims at least nine chapters. • Successfully sponsors at least two racist rock concerts per year. • HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

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Skinhead Tattoos

MS 13

Check the Doodles

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Are Gangs Here? • Rampant graffiti on streets, curbs, buildings, in schools, etc. • Widespread vandalism, auto thefts, robberies/muggings. • Senseless crimes of violence. • Fighting between youths followed by crimes committed with weapons. • Youths commonly seen traveling in groups. • Most importantly, drug trafficking and use.

Graffiti, aka Tagging

Beefing

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Roll Call

Tagger Graffiti

The Four Rs • • • •

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Read It Record It Report It Remove It

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Responding to an STG Problem • Prevention – Primary and secondary

• Intervention • Suppression • Re-entry

Response to STG Members • Be decisive, firm, and fair. • Intimidation will not work; it will most likely lead to confrontation. • Giving any public or media attention to a gang only feeds their egos and escalates gang activity.

Reducing the Impacts of STGs: •

Raise your gang awareness level.

•

Supervise your children. Get involved with your children, your neighborhood and your community.

•

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For Parents: • • • • • • • •

Know your children's friends. Know about who and what influences your kids. Know what your children are doing at all times. Become involved with them and occupy their time. Strive for good communication between you and your youngsters. Again, spend time with them. Believe in your young person. Do not allow gang dress.

For Parents (cont.) • Do not allow hanging in the streets or mall. • Be very suspicious of gang writing, graffiti, or tattoos. • Encourage anti-gang attitudes at home. • Learn about gangs and drugs. • Participate in your child's education–find out what's happening at school. • Get involved in community affairs. • Set the example for your kids–they will do what you do.

For Parents (cont.) • Be a positive role model. • Do everything possible to involve your children in supervised, positive group activities. • Praise your children for doing well and encourage them to do their very best. • Get to know your children’s friends and their parents. • Set limits for your children, and enforce them.

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For Parents (cont.) • Know where your children are at all times, and schedule activities to occupy their free time. • Get involved in your children’s education, and encourage them to stay in school. Be active in the PTA. • Teach your children to set positive goals, to hold high standards, and to prepare for a positive future.

What Parents Can Do (cont.) • Explain to your children that only a very small percentage of youth join gangs. • Help your children to understand the natural consequences of being involved in a gang. • The more connected a child is with family, school, community, and positive activities, the less likely he or she will be attracted to gangs.

For Schools • Identify at-risk students and students who are already gang members. Encourage them to participate in sports, drama, music, art, and other positive activities that will increase their confidence and sense of belonging. • Don’t allow anyone to wear gang clothing, paraphernalia, or other items associated with gang activity at school; don’t permit gang hand signals. • Photograph and remove all graffiti from the school grounds and property.

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For Schools (continued) • Promote afterschool programs that address the prevention of violence. • Work with parents, counselors, School Resource Officers, and school personnel to determine when intervention is necessary and what steps should be taken. • Ensure that gang and drug prevention are part of the curricula, and present gang and drug awareness programs to parents.

For the Community • Get to know your neighbors and their children. • Communicate. • Maintain a standard for your neighborhood’s appearance that tells gangs that they are not welcome. • Work with your local law enforcement agency to develop a community strategy against gangs.

Getting Out of a Gang • Speak to a counselor, police officer, clergy, or other professionals about ways youth can create distance between themselves and the gang. • Relocate. • Get information about tattoo removal programs.

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Notable Quotes • “Knowing gang life was so surrounded by death, I don’t know how anyone could WANT to get into a gang.” Miss Moni, former gang member

• “The way out is not by guns and violence. It is by using [your] minds. Educate yourself.” EZ-T, former gang member

Gang Program Resources • National Youth Gang Center Website www.iir.com/nygc • OJJDP Summary: Youth Gang Programs and Strategies (Howell, 2000) www.iir.com/nygc/PublicationLinks.htm#YGPI • Addressing Community Gang Problems: A Practical Guide (BJA, 1998) www.iir.com/nygc/PublicationLinks.htm#CAYG

Gang Program Resources (cont.) • G.R.E.A.T Programs (www.great-online.org) • National Crime Prevention Council: Teens, Crime, and the Community (www.ncpc.org/tcc) • National Youth Gang Center (www.irr.com/nygc) • Latin American Youth Center (www.layc-dc.org) • National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

(www.safeyou.org)

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National Crime Prevention Council 1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW Thirteenth Floor Washington, DC 20036 202-466-6272 202-296-1356 (fax) www.ncpc.org

Southern Poverty Law Center

If you have questions or would like additional information:

Michelle L. Nutter Safe and Supportive Schools Manager [email protected] 717-763-1661 ext. 212

Center for Safe Schools 275 Grandview Avenue, Suite 200 Camp Hill, PA 17011 Facsimile: 717-763-2083

www.center-schools.info

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