Violence Gangs: an organized group of criminals.

GANGS: WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN? To gain a sense of belonging and sense of attachment. To escape intolerable situations at home. To emulate admired persons -older siblings, mother, father, tough guys in the neighbor To escape poverty Forced into membership (through threats and intimidation; peer pressure) To become rich and powerful To "Get Back" at society To experience adventure and excitement To be "Somebody" or gain respect Environmental survival

Initiation (The process of getting into the gang) New members are most often brutally beaten or forced to do something dangerous or illegal. If you choose to go through with it, it is possible you will be killed or maimed for life. Membership It’s important to know, that once you pledge your allegiance to a gang, there’s almost no going back. If rival gangs see you and recognize you as a member (or ex-member) of a gang, your life, as well as the lives of your current friends and families may be in danger. Crime/Violence Gang members commit crimes such as selling drugs, stealing or murder. Gang membership will often can lead to your death, as well as the death of your family and friends who have nothing to do with the gang.

IDENTIFYING GANGS Gangs members wear specific colors as a means of identifying themselves and the gang with which they are affiliated. Many non-gang members, who innocently wore a gangs colors in the wrong place at the wrong time have been assaulted and even killed. The two most widely known gang colors are red, worn by the Bloods, and blue, worn by the Crips Most Gang members will have tattoos that indicate the game they are in. Certain behaviors such as tagging or graffiti are characteristic of gangs to mark their territory.

Gang Myths Myth - One way to eliminate gangs is by locking up gang members. Fact - Incarceration and rehabilitation of gang members has not proven effective. Changing criminal behavior patterns is difficult. Prisons often serve as command centers and institutions of higher learning for ongoing gang related crime. Myth - The minority of street gang members are juveniles. Fact - Juveniles, those who are 18 years or younger, actually compose a majority of gang membership.

Gang myths cont’d Myth - Females are not allowed to join gangs. Fact - Females are allowed to join many gangs. The estimates range from 9% - 22%.for female gang membership Myth - Gang members harm only each other. Fact - The reverse is actually true. In terms of gang related homicides, 80% of the people who are killed or assaulted are bystanders or have no gang affiliation.

Exit ticket 1.What are 3 reasons kids join gangs? 2.What are 3 reasons NOT to join a gang? 3.What is your solution to ending gang violence? Include 3 facts (underline them) 4.Why do you think David joined a gang? 5.What type of person was he before he joined? 6.What advice would you give him about his current situation?

Teen dating violence is defined as the physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional violence within a dating relationship, as well as stalking. It can occur in person or electronically and may occur between a current or former dating partner. You may have heard several different words used to describe teen dating violence: Relationship Abuse Intimate Partner Violence Relationship Violence Dating Abuse Domestic Abuse Domestic Violence

Adolescents and adults are often unaware that teens experience dating violence. In a nationwide survey, 9.4 percent of high school students report being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the 12 months prior to the survey. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey).

What are the consequences of dating violence? As teens develop emotionally, they are heavily influenced by their relationship experiences. Healthy relationship behaviors can have a positive effect on a teen’s emotional development. Unhealthy, abusive or violent relationships can cause short term and long term negative effects, or consequences to the developing teen. Victims of teen dating violence are at higher risk of the following: 1. To do poorly in school 2.Engage in Binge drinking or drug use. 3. Suicide attempts 4.Physical fighting 5.Victims may also carry the patterns of violence into future relationships.

Why does it happen? Victims often exhibit the following… 1.They may believe it's okay to use threats or violence to get their way or to express frustration or anger. 2.Use alcohol or drugs. 3.Hang out with violent peers. 4.Have a friend involved in dating violence. 5.Are depressed or anxious. 6.Have learning difficulties and other problems at school. 7.Don't have parental supervision and support. 8.Witness violence at home or in the community.

What Are the Early Warning Signs o f Teen Dating Violence? Excessive jealousy. Constant checking in with you or making you check in with him or her. Attempts to isolate you from friends and family. Insulting or putting down people that you care about. Is too serious about the relationship too quickly. Is very controlling. This may include giving you orders, telling you what to wear, and trying to make all of the decisions for you.

WARNING SIGNS CONT’D Blames you when he or she treats you badly by telling you all of the ways you provoked him or her. Has an explosive temper (“blows up” a lot). Has a history of fighting, hurting animals, or brags about mistreating other people. Believes strongly in stereotypical gender roles for males and females. Refuses to let you to end the relationship.

What can you do if you notice these signs in your relationship? Trust your intuition! If you believe there may be a problem in your relationship, you are probably right. Do not ignore the warning signs. Research has found that those who have a tendency to engage in relationship violence escalate their abuse over time. In other words, it gets worse over time, not better. Spend time with people you care about other than your partner. Stay in touch with your friends. You might consider looking into what help or resources might be available in your school or area. You might also want to consider calling a domestic violence hotline or shelter for more information before you experience a crisis.

Why Do People Stay in Abusive Relationships? Fear Believing Abuse is Normal Embarrassment Low Self-esteem Reliance on the Abuser Love

CDC’s Dating Matters: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships National Dating Abuse Helpline: or text National Domestic Violence Hotline SAFE (7233) National Sexual Assault Hotline HOPE (4673) National Sexual Violence Resource Center Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention