Gangs can generally be identified by their formal organizational structure; identifiable leadership (but not always); territoriality; recurrent interaction; and, most consistently, involvement in serious, criminal and/or violent behavior. Gangs can be distinguished from Groups primarily by their:

•   Exclusivity - members cut themselves off from non members;
•   Criminal and antisocial behavior;
•   Violent rivalries with other gangs; and
•   Loyalty that overrides ethics or common sense - the gang comes first.

Why Do Kids Join Gangs?

Commonly cited reasons: surrogate family (perception that affection, affirmation, understanding as well as physical and emotional support can be found in gangs, and is absent at home); failure in mainstream society’s challenges (i.e., school, sports, peer relationships); identity, recognition and respect (confusing fear with respect, substituting gang membership for individual identity); protection; intimidation or peer pressure; money; glamour/role models; excitement and rebellion; and/or a family history of gang membership.

Gangs vs. Groups: Knowing the Difference

Four primary differences:

• Exclusivity. Gangs tend to be exclusive: members have little interest in associating with non-members. Gang involved young people cut themselves off from the influence of noninvolved friends and family members.
• Crime. Activity and attitudes are frequently criminal and antisocial in nature. Gang crime originates for several reasons including profit, rivalries, building reputation, and “Jumping In” rituals for new members.
• Rivalries. Important points to understand about gang rivalries include the following:
  
  Anyone associated with a gang may be in danger from either known or unknown rivals. Rivalries are traditional and are rarely questioned or evaluated. They tend to be impersonal: Random retaliatory acts against a convenient victim or “set” are at least as common as acts which accurately identify and target the particular individual who committed the precipitating insult or offense.
  
  Families and friends of members are seriously at risk of harm, as rivals do not consider their well being. Rivals don’t necessarily cease to represent a serious danger just because an individual quits the gang.
  
  Individual members have no control over the perceptions or actions of rivals. Nor do they have control over - or often have an awareness of - events that may lead to violence where they may be the victim.
   
• Loyalty. Expectations of continued participation once an individual is “Jumped In,” Involvement in the activities which the gang as a whole feels are desirable, regardless of the individual member’s personal feeling about such activities. As a means of establishing loyalty and demonstrating their willingness to suffer or risk physical or legal consequences, new members generally must submit to “Jumping In,” and initiatory activity determined by the “set” which is usually violent, dangerous and/or illegal. In many “sets,” members risk serious consequences, including death, if they attempt to leave.

Gang Mentality

The term “Gang Mentality” is commonly used when discussing gangs, but very little time has been spent describing exactly what that mentality consists of so that non-members can develop an understanding of its significance.

Here, the mentality has been broken into components. Understand, however, that in the real world the mentality is seamless. Each component feeds into, and is reinforced, by the others, and becomes the basis for how gang involved individuals interpret and respond to the events in their lives.

Also understand that it is not necessary to be a fully recognized member to be significantly influenced by the elements of this mentality: Non-members who associate with gang involved individuals —— friends, siblings, even parents ——begin to embrace this mentality and incorporate it into their response to life situations.

• Being Respected. The central theme in any gang involved individ ual’s life is being “respected” by his or her Homies, rivals, and non-members. Being “respected” is essentially being feared, and is based upon one’s reputation for being volatile and dangerous. A willingness to “do or die for the set” may also serve to develop this reputation. Many members, especially young, immature ones, will stop at nothing to establish or preserve their reputation.
• Disrespect for Rivals. One way in which respect is gained is through demonstrating disrespect, disdain, and lack of fear of rivals. Making derogatory graffiti or defacing that of rivals, throwing hand signs at them, “Maddogging” (hard stare), cruising their neighborhood, assaulting them, talking poorly about them, etc., are all ways of showing disrespect. The more an individual demonstrates this attitude, the more recognized he or she will be within their own “set.”
• No Insult Goes Unanswered. No act of disrespect, no matter how small, goes without a response. The response, if not immediate, will stack up, fuel animosity, and eventually lead to an antagonistic or violent act toward an individual or “set” as a whole. The combination of these first three elements of gang mentality serve to set in motion the cycle of rival violence that accompanies gang presence within a community.
• Consequences as a Rite of Passage. Seasoned gang members understand that gang life involves grief and suffering. As a result, young members, while taken as part of the “set” and cared for, are often not fully recognized and given status as mature gangsters until they have suffered the contingencies of gang life, e.g., physical harm, jail or prison, loss of loved ones through violence, etc. The impact of this is significant: Newly initiated members or peripheral associates desiring fuller recognition may be inclined to engage in activities, understanding in advance the potential for painful consequences, as a way of attaining greater acceptance and increased status within the gang.
• Problems Handled from Within. Disputes, or “Beefs,” are generally handled without requesting, or even accepting, input or involvement from police or the legal system. Rivals will often refuse to testify against each other, for participation in the legal system at any level is seen as undesirable.
• Disregard for the Rights of Non-Members. This may seem self-evident; however, theimportant point is to understand that to show empathy for non-members or victims is ruinous to an individual member’s reputation. In private this may be different, but in public, expressions of empathy are considered weak and not tolerated.

Profile of a Gang Involved Youth

Single parent of unstable family structure provide one of the most reliable predictors of gang involvement. Keep in mind, however, that while the majority of gang members are from single parent homes, very few young people from single parent homes actually end up involved with gangs. Research indicates that it is the lack of structure and bonding with adult role models of the same sex in some single parent homes that underlies movement towards gangs, not single parent households themselves.

In addition, the following factors have been shown to be significant.

•   Exposure to gangs through neighborhood, friends, or family; gangs are part of the social environment.
•   Minimal or overly harsh structure and discipline.
•   Stressful relationships with peers, siblings, parents.
•   Poor communication skills.
•   Inability to feel empathy.
•   Socially isolated, unskilled (peers may be similar).
•   Limited experience with success.
•   No expression of emotion or vents frustration and anger onto weaker people/animals.
•   History of physical/sexual abuse and/or substance abusing/criminally oriented adult role models.
•   Easily bored; reliant on constant, external stimuli.
•   May be of average/above average intelligence.
•   May or may not do well in school.
•   An additional factor, which may in fact be the most significant of all, is the perceived absence of an adult figure that is available in a time of crisis.

What to Watch for: Indicators of Gang Interest/Affiliation

With the exception of bona fide gang tattoos, there are few, if any, single indicators which can be taken as airtight guarantees that a particular young person is involved in gang activity. The following list can serve as a guide. However, if several of these become observable, they should serve as a red flag, and professional intervention should be sought.

•   Extreme loyalty/exclusivity to core group of friends.
•   Secretiveness/defensiveness about activities with friends.
•   Disengagement from family.
•   Loss of interest in normal activities and interests.
•   Delinquency issues: problems with school, police, etc.
•   Out of control behavior: curfew, runaway, defiant.
•   Use of new, unfamiliar slang.
•   Dress: Sagging (baggy pants), colors (generally red or blue), team jackets.
•   Tattoos/Drawing on self or clothing.
•   Graffiti on clothing/notebooks/baseball caps/bedroom walls and furniture.
•   Sudden appearance of unexplained money/possessions.
•   Flashing hand signs (hand gestures) to friends (or even when alone).
•   Use of new nickname, referring to friends by nickname.
•   New interest in “Gangsta” rap music (not soft Rap).
•   Initial onset of drug and alcohol use, or increased usage, is often seen in conjunction with gang involvement.

What Can Communities Do To Combat Gangs?

Recognize the presence of gangs, and the reality that gangs can move from a minor pr oblem to a full scale crisis in less than five years; mobilize and coordinate prevention, intervention and suppression resources; clarify definitions, targets and strategies; mobilize the community (rated most effective in emerging gang problem cities); promote social and economic opportunities, (identified by some researchers as the most effective strategy) including special school, training and job programs (especially critical for older gangsters who want to leave gangs); social intervention (outreach geared toward mainstreaming fringe youth); gang suppression (formal and informal social control; only rated effective when combined with other strategies); and organizational change and development (as the risk escalates, responses should keep pace).

A community has the greatest success in combating gangs when preventive measures are aggressively instituted before youth move beyond stage one. Stage two requires creative intervention measures. However, in no community where gangs have established firm roots have gangs ever been eradicated.

How to Discourage Your Children from Joining Gangs