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STREET GANGS
A DEAD END
FOR OUR CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION
Today, children as young as eight and ten are lured into gangs and commit acts of violence once associated with much older, street-wise troublemakers. With a little knowledge and understanding of the gang phenomenon, adults may help stem the tide of gang affiliation and end its natural results: disrespect, disruption in school, and a vicious cycle of community violence.
GANG AWARENESS
What is a gang?
A gang is defined as three or more individuals that hang together on a continuing basis,
during both criminal and non-criminal activity. They distinguish themselves apart from the
rest of society in some manner, which could be clothing, hairstyles, communication or any
other means. A gang may or may not claim turf. However, one of the simplest and most
functional definitions is that a gang is a group of people who form an allegiance for a
common purpose and engage in violent, unlawful, or criminal activity.
Street gangs
Gangs are predominately territory oriented. Each gang has its own turf and graffiti
marks its boundaries. Anyone who does not belong in the area and resembles a rival gang
member may become the subject of attack.
Gang names
Many gangs adopt names that have significance when related to their neighborhood
(streets, parks, hills, valleys or housing projects).
Nicknames
Many gang members adopt nicknames when recruited into the group if they do not already
have one. The gang tends to select a name that fits the individual's physical or
psychological characteristics.
Leadership
Gang members do not fit the movie image in which they are portrayed fulfilling
specific roles in the gangs such as president or enforcer and wearing gang jackets similar
to those worn by many car clubs having rigid structures. Rather, leadership roles in
street gangs are usually not formally recognized positions. Theyare assumed by a member
who demonstrates or asserts dominant control at a particular time. His leadership may
continue for the particular incident or a limited time thereafter. With smaller gangs,
however, it is more likely that a single individual will become a recognized leader.
Cliques and sets
Many gangs are subdivided into sets or cliques. A clique or set will usually have its
own name. Sets usually apply to black gangs and cliques to Hispanic gangs.
Why do young people join gangs?
There are variety of reasons, including the excitement of gang activity, peer
pressure, attention, protection, financial benefit, family tradition, and lack of
realization of the hazards involved. In many cases, young people are not actively
discouraged from gang involvement by their parents. Often, parents don't realize that
their children are engaged in gang activity.
Effects of gang involvement
Gang membership extracts a terrible toll from the lives of all who contact the
members. Parents and relatives of gang members live in a double fear; one for their
families safety and that of their gang related child.
Non-gang member friends are cast aside and soon the youth's only friends are gang members.
Gang membership, although a temporary phase for some youth, will shape the individual's future. ALL levels of formal education are discarded because they differ from the gangs' objectives. Gang members not killed or seriously injured often develop patterns of alcohol and narcotics abuse, as well as extensive police records that will limit their employment opportunities.
GANGS
"MOVE 'EM OUT OF YOUR LIFE!"
THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
GANG ACTIVITY
What do gangs do?
It is not practical to examine everything a gang does. In fact, many gang activities
are frequently shared by a large portion of society. But when a gang is involved in a
weekend party, attends a public event such as visiting an amusement park or attends a
school related function such as a dance or ball game, the potential for violence and
criminal activity is far greater than for any other group of people. Gang members seek
confrontation with rivals.The resulting violence often claims innocent victims.
While gang violence often makes headlines, it creates even more damage on a regular basis to local property and business. Vandalism, in the form of graffiti and the wanton destruction of public and private property, is often done in furtherance of the gang's reputation. Abandoned houses are favorite targets for vandalism, but even occupied homes do not escape. This decreases property values in residential neighborhoods and negatively affects industrial and commercial areas. Local businesses suffer not only from the property damage end graffiti, but also from loss of customers and employees. Businesses facing decreasing revenue and rising insurance costs close their doors, leaving another abandoned building for the gang. However, the majority of residents in a gang area who are unable to move away live in fear.
Dress
The uniform of Hispanic gang members is an easily recognized standard. Most gang
members adopt a basic style that includes white T-shirts, thin belts, baggy pants with
split cuffs, and a black or blue knit cap, beanie, or bandanna tied around the forehead
similar to a sweatband. Black gang members tend to identify themselves by adopting certain
colors. The "Crips" identify themselves with the color blue.
"Non-Crip" gangs, known generally as "Bloods", use red accessories
such as caps or bandannas to identify themselves. Some gangs also adopt clique or set
colors to readily identify their set, such as Grape Street will use purple accessories and
Lime Street will use green. A more recent phenomenon is the use of sports attire in the
gang dress. Gangs will adopt a sports team from their area or with colors that fit their
set. Gangs will also wear certain sports attire due to its street meaning (British
Knights, where the BK stands for Blood Killer and Colonial Knights, where the CK stands
for Crip Killer).
Graffiti
Graffiti, a form of vandalism, is a problem that impacts our neighborhoods in a
variety of ways. Without question, it decreases property values in residential
neighborhoods and negatively affects industrial and commercial areas. Of greater concern
is the inherent violence associated with gang graffiti. Gang members use graffiti to mark
their gang's "turf" or territory, to advertise the gang's status or power, and
to declare their allegiance to the gang. They also use graffiti to boast of criminal
activity in which they have been involved or of criminal activity that is to come. When a
neighborhood is marked with graffiti, its inhabitants become targets for violence. Anyone
on the street or in his home is fair game for drive-by attacks by rival gang members. A
rival gang identifies everyone in the neighborhood as a potential threat. Consequently,
innocent residents are often subject to gang violence by the mere presence of graffiti in
their neighborhood.
What to do
Fighting crime and dealing directly with violent gang members should be left to
experts trained to handle dangerous situations. However, everyone has the responsibility
to overcome apathy and fear. Everyone must work toward a solution to the gang problem. One
solution is to offer alternatives to gang involvement. Youth loitering after school or
hanging out on corners provide a breeding ground for gangs. The alternatives include
locations where organized and supervised programs are offered. The following suggestions
may provide a starting point for concerned parents: The UnitedWay, your child's school,
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Parks and Recreation Department,youth service programs, etc.
INDICATORS OF GANG INVOLVEMENT
The first and most important step is to become aware of gangs, gang members,
and their activities. As a parent or concerned citizen, you need to know that prevention
is the key to controlling gang activity. Learning the warning signs of gang membership
will prepare you to better direct your children away from gang involvement.
*While many of these indicators, viewed separately, are not signs of gang involvement, viewed together they may indicate gang involvement.
If several of the indictors above are found in your youth, then there is an indication your youth may be involved in a gang. As a parent, you may wish to search your youth's room or vehicle for weapons or drugs. This is not a violation of your child's privacy; it is an act that may protect your child as well as the rest of the family.
WAYS TO PREVENT GANG INVOLVEMENT
KNOW YOUR CHILDREN'S FRIENDS
WHEN YOUR CHILDREN GO OUT, KNOW
SET RULES AND LIMITS AND ENFORCE THEM
**Be aware that the same child that will not obey the rules at home is the child who will obey the rules of the gang, because the gang demands it.**
TALK TO TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS AT SCHOOL
BE AWARE OF RADICAL CHANCES IN ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOR, FRIENDS, DRESS STYLE AND HAIRSTYLE
ENCOURAGE HOBBIES AND SPORTS, OR OTHER LEGITIMATE OUT-OF-SCHOOL INTERESTS
Be aware of the previously described indicators and act quickly when the indicators
areseen to prevent your child from getting more involved in the gang.
-MOST IMPORTANT-
GET INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES
ALTERNATIVES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH
Boy Scouts (First United Methodist Church)............ 255-3353
Boy Scouts (First Prebyterian Church)......255-5769
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
Youth Services for Stephens County ....255-8800
Marie Detty Youth and
Family Services....... 252-1619
Taliaferro Community
Mental Health Center..252-0200
Memorial Hospital
STAR Unit............. 357-7827
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
(580) 255-2112
