Departments Office of the Sheriff Command Staff Administration Investigations Communications Corrections Patrol Special Operations K-9 and Paw Patrol School Resource Officer Community Engagement Community Relations Employee of the Month Law Enforcement Memorial WANTED: Do You Know This Baby?

School Resource Officer

facts on gangs everyone needs to know.

FACTS TO KNOW

What are gangs?
Gangs are groups of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose and commit violent, unlawful, or criminal activities. Today's street gangs may claim control over a certain territory in their community and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation there. Gangs are often involved with narcotics, which bring them a profit.

Who joins gains?
Gang members generally range in age from 13-21 years old but can be as young as 9 years old. Those who join gangs often have low self-esteem, feel unloved at home, do poorly in school, and have a hard time making decisions and communicating with others. Many come from single-parent homes. Most gang members are boys, but 10% of all gang members are girls and the number is growing.

Why do kids join gangs?
Kids join for many reasons, and each case is individual. However, reasons include: excitement and fun, a sense of belonging, companionship, peer pressure, attention or status, financial gain, intimidation, protection, and a failure to realize what being in a gang means. Living in a gang-infested area or having a family member in a gang increases the possibility of a kid joining one.

What risk factors lead to gang membership?
Among the risk factors are: a) lack of adequate community youth support systems and too much unsupervised time, b) poverty, c) lack of self-worth, d) poor decision-making and communication skills, e) domestic violence at home, f) media that glorifies violence, g) parent denial of a gang problem. Gang membership could also be considered a form of survival, if living in a gang-infested community.

What are the dangers of being in a gang?
Gangs often have guns and drugs, exposing kids to the dangers of both. Members can be seriously hurt or killed during gang fights or criminal acts. Gang memberships can also hamper education, since are viewed negatively by gangs. Extensive police records limit future employment opportunities. Families of gang members also face danger of for their own safety from feuding gang members.

How big is the problem?
Many experts (and kids themselves) believe the gang problem is growing, with gangs networking across the U.S.A. rather than being confined to certain communities as in the past. And older gang members recruit younger once to do their criminal acts, including drug trafficking and shootings. The average age of a shooter in a street grand is now 9-11 years old.

How can you help?
Stay informed, involved, and aware. Help your children choose to refuse gang membership by becoming more involved in their lives, by building their self-esteem at home, and by working to combat the gang problem in your community.

SIGNS OF POSSIBLE
GANG INVOLVEMENT

Sudden poor school grades and disinterest in school
Withdrawal from family activities.
Use of unknown vocabulary (gangs have many slang)
Sudden change in friends.
Evidence of drug abuse.
Sudden affluence.
Use of hand signs.
Desire for excessive privacy.
Having a new nickname.
Developing a bad attitude towards family, school, and authorities.
Purchase or desire to buy clothing of all one color or style.
Wearing altered headwear (gang members often put gang information on the inside band of ball caps.
Changing appearance with special haircuts, eyebrow markings or tattoos.
Use of gang graffiti on folders, desks, walls, and buildings.
Staying out later than usual.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

BECOME INFORMED
Find out about gang and drug activity in your community. Learn how gang members dress, speak, and behave. Attend informational meetings and read articles.

GET INVOLVED
Become active in your children's education and in your community. Organize or join neighborhood watch groups. Discourage gangs from hanging around your area. When incidents occur (i.e.: vandalism, loitering and drug activity) report.

KNOW YOUR CHILDREN'S FRIENDS
Know who your children are hanging out with and how they and your children spend their free time. If children choose friends that are mostly from gangs, they are probably involved or will become involved in gangs, too.

COMMUNICATE
Develop open, frequent communication with your children. Be positive, allow your children to come to you to discuss any topic or problem. Tell your children that you love them. Allow them to express themselves.

SPEND TIME TOGETHER
Plan activities the whole family can enjoy. Expose children to difference places outside of your neighborhood, such as parks, museums, the beach, and the mountains. Let children know you want to be with them.

SET LIMITS
Don't let children stay out late or spend a lot of unsupervised tine in the streets. (Most gang members start with curfew violations.) Don't allow children to write gang names, symbols or any other gang graffiti on their books, papers, clothes, bodies, walls or any other places.

TEACH GOOD VALUES AND RESPONSIBILITY
Help children develop respect for each other's property and pride in their community. Give them responsibility at home and reward them for a job well done. Teach them to set positive goals for themselves, to hold high standards, sand to prepare for a positive future.

MONITOR MEDIA
Children on the average see 8,000 murders on TV by the time they are ten years old. Watching violence on TV makes viewers become more insensitive to it. Music and video games also glorify violence. Know what children are seeing, hearing, and playing. Say no to violent media.

ENCOURAGE HEALTHY ACTIVITIES
Encourage children to be involved in athletics and other health-oriented group activities so they can gain a sense of belonging that way. Take elementary students to college/high school games to promote an interest in sports. Host gang-free parties for children old enough for them.

BE A ROLE MODEL
Set a good example. Deal with anger in a healthy way, so children learn from you. Limit your intake of alcohol, and don't do other drugs. If you have a problem with drugs, get help. If necessary, work on your own self-esteem or anger control. Keep stress manageable.

SAY NO TO GANGS
Develop an anti-gang environment at home. Don't let children dress in gang-style clothing. Read articles to children about gangs and help them see the natural consequences of actions.

AVOID DENIAL
Many parents refuse to recognize their children's gang involvement until it is too late. Be alert to signs of possible gang memberships.

PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN

For their own safety, tell children:

Don't wear clothing in color or style that is gang related.
Don't associate or attend parties with gang members or wannabe gang members.
Don't hang out on street corners where gangs are active.
Don't approach individuals in cars who seemingly want information.
Don't take park in writing graffiti or hang around walls marked with it.