1. Crime Prevention Part II Identifying & addressing GANG PROBLEMS
Institute for Criminal Justice Studies
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

2. Objectives Look at a definition of a gang
Look at prevention and intervention strategies
Learn several indicators and risk factors of gangs in your community
Explore tips of what can be done by parents, schools, and neighbors to
prevent gang activity
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

3. What is a Gang? A group of three or more people
There is no nationally accepted definition, but most agree on the following elements:
A group of three or more people
These people share a common identifying sign, symbol, or name
Covers all types of gangs, from copycat to traditional criminal gangs (see slide 6)
Usually a self-formed group of peers
The identity of a gang is solidified by hand signs, symbols, graffiti, and clothing.
Two-thirds of gang members are 18 or older, according to a national youth gang survey conducted by the National Youth Gang Center.
There is no single, accepted nationwide definition of youth gangs. It has been firmly established that the characteristics and behaviors of gangs are exceptionally varied within and across geographical areas (Klein, 2002; National Youth Gang Center™, forthcoming; Weisel, 2002) and that a community’s gang problem—however affected from other areas—is primarily and inherently homegrown. Thus, state and local jurisdictions tend to develop their own definitions.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

4. What is a Gang?
Gang members individually or collectively engage in an ongoing pattern of criminal or delinquent activity
They are often between 12 and 24
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

5. Texas Law – Street Gang Penal Code 71.01 (Definitions)
(d) "Criminal street gang" means three or more persons having a common identifying sign or symbol or an identifiable leadership who continuously or regularly associate in the commission of criminal activities.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

6. 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
Youth may be attracted to, and influenced by, local gangs, but the large majority are not active gang members.
Most crime is committed by relatively few gang members who are often perceived as gang leaders.
Children and Adolescents at
High Risk for Gang Involvement
General Population of Youth and Families
Living in High Risk Areas
Relative Share of Population

7. General Population of Youth & Families Living in High Risk Areas
Other Active Gang
Members & Associates
Children & Adolescents at
High Risk for Gang Involvement
General Population of
Youth & Families
Living in High Risk Areas
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

8. Types of Gangs Traditional gangs Business/profit gangs
White hate gangs
Copy-cat gangs
Delinquent social gangs
Traditional gangs include Crips, Bloods, MS-13 – gangs that have been around for generations and have strong foundations.
Business gangs – gangs that are purely formed for the purpose of making money (drugs, prostitution, etc.).
White Hate gangs – skinheads, gangs that target gays, Aryan Nation.
Copy-cat gangs and delinquent Social gangs – don’t have a strong foundation. These two types of gangs may pop up one day and disappear the next. These two gangs are the easiest to address and prevent.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

9. Conditions that Enable Gangs To Grow
Socializing agents are ineffective – “misfits”
Abundance of free and unstructured time
Limited exposure and access to good jobs and careers
Socializing agents in communities include families, schools, and supportive communities. The lack of positive adult supervision and positive role models also encourages the growth of gangs.
Prosocial use of time is not encouraged or supported.
Lack of good jobs and opportunities for developing job skills, which may exist across generations so it becomes the norm and lead to a sense of hopelessness.
Moore, J. W “Understanding Youth Street Gangs: Economic Restructuring and the Urban Underclass.” In M. W. Watts (Ed.), Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Youth and Violence (pp ), Stamford, CT: JAI.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

10. Conditions that Enable Gangs To Grow
A place to congregate, a well-defined neighborhood
PRODUCT OF THE ENVIRONMENT?
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

11. Do we have a GANG problem? Are our children at risk of joining a gang?
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

12. Indicators of Possible Gang Involvement
Purchasing or desire to buy or wear clothing of all one color or style
Changing appearance with special haircuts, eyebrow markings, or tattoos
Using hand signs
Gang clothing may just be the color of the clothing. It may be the way the clothing is worn. Gang paraphernalia may include jewelry, beads, or friendship bracelets. Obsession with one particular color of clothing or showing a desire for a particular logo over and over may also be a sign.
The color blue is most often seen in the form of a blue bandana. Also, red, gray, black, and white can also be colors that show allegiance to a gang.
Gang members may wear clothing in a specific manner such as wearing a specific ball cap worn to the right or to the left. A pants leg rolled up may be an indicator. The wearing of baggy pants may be another indicator. One indicator may not mean anything. It is the totality of the indicators that needs to be taken into consideration.
Tattoos are common and usually have at least one, identifying gang. The three dots tattoo means “My Crazy Life.”
Hand Signs – Non-verbal communication between members. Uses hand signs while with friends and practices them at home
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

13. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

14. Indicators of Possible Gang Involvement (cont.)
Gang graffiti on folders, desks, walls, and buildings
Developing a bad attitude towards family, school, and authorities
Staying out later than usual
Carrying weapons
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

15. Indicators of Possible Gang Involvement (cont.)
Withdrawing from family activities
Changing friends; spending time with undesirable people
Having more money or possessions
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

16. Hand signs are used to show allegiance to a specific gang.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

17. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

18. GANG – hand signs
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

19. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

20. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

21. Some gangs also use symbols to identity their gang
Some gangs also use symbols to identity their gang. This gang is called “Mara Salvatrucha,” clique-Centrales
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

22. “Mi Vida Loca”- My Crazy Life
Tear Drop
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

23. Is All Graffiti Gang Graffiti?
No, some graffiti is tagger graffiti.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

24. What is Tagger Graffiti?
It is usually more artistic.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

25. What Can We Learn From Graffiti?
Gangs may use graffiti to claim a particular area as their turf.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

26. Graffiti may show what gangs are fighting, arguing, or “beefing.”
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

27. Graffiti may present the gang roll call.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

28. Why Individuals Join Gangs
Fun and excitement
Identity and sense of belonging
Peer pressure
Financial gain/drugs
These are the reasons the gangs like to promote.
Fun and excitement - Gang members, recruiters, and the news media glamorize the gang life style. Youth who lack self-esteem, do not have a sense of belonging, or lack interests and direction could be drawn to gangs.
Identity and a Sense of Belonging - Gangs provide a sense of identity for their members. This sense of identity may be a sense of belonging or a source of recognition that they are not getting at home or elsewhere. Youth who do not have strong ties to their families, communities, schools, or churches may turn to gangs as a “substitute” family. Gangs satisfy the need for recognition and power.
Peer Pressure - If their friends are gang members, youth may be pressured to join a gang.
Financial Gain - Being in a gang is often seen as way to obtain money or possessions.
A Failure To Understand What Being in a Gang Means – Youth see only the fun, excitement, and power that gang members claim to have. They very often do not fully understand the danger, risks, and legal problems associated with being in a gang.
Protection - In neighborhoods and areas where gangs are present, youth sometimes feel, or are told, that belonging to a gang will provide protection from other gangs.
A family tradition – We are now seeing some second- and third-generation gang members.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

29. Why Individuals Join Gangs
Protection
A family tradition
A failure to understand what being in a gang means
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

30. 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
Two-thirds of gang member are 18 and older according to a national survey; this varies from gang to gang, community to community.
Certain risk factors include poverty, unmet basic living needs, the need for protection, and an unhealthy home life.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

31. Who Joins Gangs?
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
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

32. Associated Risk Factors
Living in an area with a high level of gang activity, drug/alcohol use, available firearms
Lack of a positive support system at home
Violence against family members
Exposure to TV shows, movies, and/or music that glorifies violence
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

33. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

34. Associated Risk Factors (cont.)
Lack of alternative activities, such as community youth programs
Lack of positive role models
Low self-esteem and/or a sense of hopelessness about the future
Poor decision-making and communication skills
Too much unsupervised free time
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

35. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

36. Associated Risk Factors (cont.)
Poor school achievement
Problematic child-parent relationship
Lack of respect for authority (parents, teachers, law enforcement officers)
Family members who are or were gang members
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

37. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

38. Responding to a Gang Problem
Prevention
Primary
Secondary
Intervention
Suppression
Reentry
Primary Prevention: Targets all youth or all youth in high-risk areas. Examples: Prenatal and early infancy home visits by health professionals, GREAT (Gang Resistance, Education and Training), Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentoring, Police Athletic League
Secondary Prevention: Targets high-risk children, based on prior record of delinquency, drug/alcohol abuse, child abuse, or poor school achievement
Intervention: Targets active gang members and close associates; requires coordinated services from family services, probation, social services, law enforcement, and community-based organizations
Suppression: Targets gang leaders for aggressive supervision, enforcement, prosecution, removal of leaders from the community; requires coordination by law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, corrections; relies heavily on gang-related intelligence.
Reentry: Targets gang members returning from confinement; requires close supervision by corrections with support of law enforcement. Coordination of services (employment, housing, transportation, employment training, life skills training) to support ex-offender is required.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

39. TIPS What Parents Can Do
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

40. NOT THE ANSWER!
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

41. What Parents Can Do?
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.
Some youth are sons and daughters of gang members. Always show by example the type of person you want your children to be.
If the family is the source of love, guidance, and protection that youth seek, they will not be forced to search for these basic needs from a gang.
The more confident a child is in his or her ability to achieve success, to be a leader, to make good decisions, the less likely he or she will be to fall victim to a gang lifestyle. Help them develop good self-esteem.
Monitor friends and activities.
Establish rules, then be consistent, firm, and fair in punishment.

42. What Parents Can Do (cont.)
Set limits for your children, and enforce them.
Do not allow your children to dress in gang-style clothing, to practice gang hand signs, or to write gang graffiti on any surface, including their bodies.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

43. TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

44. What Parents Can Do (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.
If your child looks like a gang member, he or she can be mistaken for a gang member.
Be on the phone constantly with other parents. Collaborate.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

45. 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.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

46. What Parents Can Do (cont.)
The more connected a child is with;
Family
School
Community
Other positive activities, the less likely he or she will be attracted to gangs.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

47. WHAT CAN SCHOOLS DO? RECOMMENDATIONS
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

48. Increase their confidence &
What Schools Can Do
Identify at-risk students and students who are already gang members.
Encourage them to participate in
Sports
Drama & Art
Music
JROTC, & other positive activities
Increase their confidence &
sense of belonging

49. What Schools Can Do Don’t allow anyone to: wear gang clothing
Paraphernalia or other items (Jewelry) associated with gang activity at school;
don’t permit gang hand signals.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

50. What Schools Can Do
Photograph and remove all graffiti from the school grounds and property.
Promote afterschool programs that address the prevention of violence.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

51. What Neighbors Can Do? 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.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

52. What Neighbors Can Do
Work with your local law enforcement agency to develop a community strategy against gangs.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

53. 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.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

54. Getting Out of a Gang
Getting out is not an easy task; retaliation, reprisals and general “FEAR”, but it can be done.
Rescue: Law Enforcement & the community needs to be prepared and ready to help.
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

55. Quotes taken from Gangstyles; www.streetgangstyle.com
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
Quotes taken from Gangstyles;
Before moving on to the resource pages, review the objectives of the session (Slide 2).
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

56. DEFINE & PROCESS Define a gang
Explain some recommended prevention and intervention strategies
Explain some gang indicators and risk factors of gangs in your community
Explain some tips of what can be done by parents, schools, and neighbors to
prevent gang activity
TCLEOSE Course #2101 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part I is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

57. Gang Program Resources
National Youth Gang Center Website
OJJDP Summary: Youth Gang Programs and Strategies (Howell, 2000)
Addressing Community Gang Problems: A Practical Guide (BJA, 1998)
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

58. Gang Program Resources (cont.)
G.R.E.A.T Programs
National Crime Prevention Council: Teens, Crime, and the Community
National Youth Gang Center
Latin American Youth Center
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
Center for Safe Communities & Schools – Texas School Safety Center – San Marcos
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Curriculum Part II is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

59. National Crime Prevention Council
1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Thirteenth Floor
Washington, DC 20036
(fax)
Used with permission from the Bureau of Justice Assistance
September 2006

60. INSTITUTE for CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES
Contact Information
INSTITUTE for CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES
350 N. Guadalupe, Suite 140, PMB 164
San Marcos, Texas
TCLEOSE Course #2102 Crime Prevention Part II Curriculum is the intellectual property of ICJS (2009)

61. TAKE A 15-MINUTE BREAK