Gangs: Reasons Youth Join, Warning Signs and Prevention Tips. March 4, 2010 by middleearthnj Gangs are a scary phenomenon in our nation.
They are becoming more prevalent, increasingly violent, and more sophisticated in their crime. The FBI reports, “About 20,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs with approximately 1 million members are criminally active in the U.S. today. Many are sophisticated and well organized; all use violence to control neighborhoods and boost their illegal money-making activities.” Gang members generally range in age from 13 to 24 years old, but can be as young as 9. Reasons Youth Join Gangs Middle Earth just hosted a poll on its website asking visitors to indicate what reasons they believe cause youth to join gangs. A sense of belonging, acceptance and loyalty. Signs that a Youth is Involved in a Gang The FBI has posted this list of warning signs for gang involvement: Ways Parents Can Help Prevent Gang Involvement Spend quality time with your child. Like this: Like Loading... The causes of gang violence are complex and cannot be solved by enforcement alone.
Police for a line during the riots in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011.
One in five rioters were said to be part of a gang resulting in the government declaring an "all-out war" on gangs. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA On 1 August 2012, an early morning phone call left me stunned and numb. One of the most amazing women I have ever worked with, who has dedicated decades of her life to working with young people in the inner city, lost her son. He had been stabbed through the heart three days after his 16th birthday in an unprovoked attack. After the riots of 2011, we were told that one in five of the rioters was part of a gang. Even when gang members are in prison, they are not removed from gang culture.
Has anything really changed over the past year? The vain hope that police can sort out gangs on their own, and the positive diversion of the Olympics this summer, has resulted in us losing focus on what is really required. Gun Control Debate: Gang Violence Accounts For Half Of Violent Crime in America. Gun Control Debate Gang Violence Accounts For Half Of Violent Crime in America The FBI's 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report states that there are 1.4 million active gang members comprising more than 33,000 gangs in the United States.
Gang violence is a serious issue significantly contributing to violent crime, including homicides. Gang membership is rapidly increasing; the 2011 report indicates a 40% growth in gang membership since the 2009 report. The current gun control debate in the U.S. is long on emotion and cosmetic approaches to reducing violence, but short on meaningful solutions that address the underlying causes of violence. Tacking the underlying causes may not be as immediately gratifying in terms of producing swift results; however, if we are serious about reducing crime, shouldn't we consider the underlying factors? Gang violence doesn't usually result in mass shootings or killing sprees. Other key findings: - U.S.