1. Crime Prevention Identifying and Addressing a Gang Problem
Institute for Criminal Justice Studies
This TCLEOSE approved Crime Prevention Curriculum is the property of CSCS-ICJS CRIME PREVENTION II

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

3. These people share a common identifying sign, symbol, or name
What is a Gang?
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.

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

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.

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. 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.

8. 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.

9. Conditions that Enable Gangs To Grow
A place to congregate, a well-defined neighborhood

10. Do we have a gang problem? Are our children at risk of joining a gang?

11. 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

12. 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

13. Indicators of Possible Gang Involvement (cont.)
Withdrawing from family activities
Changing friends; spending time with undesirable people
Having more money or possessions

14. Hand signs are used to show allegiance to a specific gang.

16. GANG – hand signs

19. 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

20. “Mi Vida Loca”-
My Crazy Life
Tear Drop

21. Is All Graffiti Gang Graffiti?
No, some graffiti is tagger graffiti.

22. What is Tagger Graffiti?
It is usually more artistic.

23. What Can We Learn From Graffiti?
Gangs may use graffiti to claim a particular area as their turf.

24. Graffiti may show what gangs are
fighting, arguing, or “beefing.”

25. Graffiti may present the gang roll call.

26. 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.

27. Why Individuals Join Gangs
Protection
A family tradition
A failure to understand what being in a gang means

28. 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.

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. Responding to a Gang Problem
Prevention
Primary and 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.

34. TIPS What Parents Can Do

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. TIPS What Schools Can Do

40. What Schools Can Do
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.
Promote afterschool programs that address the prevention of violence.

41. What Schools Can Do (cont.)
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.

42. 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.
Work with your local law enforcement agency to develop a community strategy against gangs.

43. 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.

44. 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).

45. 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)

46. 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

47. 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

48. Presenter Contact Information
350 N. Guadalupe, Suite 140, PMB 164
San Marcos, Texas