Gangs

Introduction

The gang crisis in America was one of the most vicious dilemmas facing our nation during the 1980s and '90s.  Homicides, drive-by shootings, and drug trafficking have spread across our land, leaving their marks of terror and panic throughout communities and cities.

We have attempted to present some valuable information and resources on this page concerning gangs and anti-gang efforts.

What is a Gang?

A street gang is a structured, cohesive group of individuals, usually between the ages of eleven and twenty-five, who generally operate under some form of leadership while claiming a territory or turf. Gang members wear distinctive clothing, use special street names and symbols, and commit organized and spontaneous criminal acts within the community.

Gangs establish their reputation by the types and severity of the crimes they commit.  The more heinous the crime the more "juice" or reputation the gang gets.  In the seedy street gang world, the more "juice" you have the more respect you get!

Recent News

09-23-2006:  Gang Awareness Workshop (Public Invited)

Gang Awareness

The following information has been posted regarding gang awareness and information.  The documents require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

The following pages can be downloaded or viewed separately by topic or altogether at the very bottom link:

	Document	Size
	Symptoms of Pre-Gang & Gang Behavior	18.8 KB
	Evidence of Gang-Related Activity	18.3 KB
	What are the Key Dangers of Gangs?	16.9 KB
	Why Some Kids Join Gangs	23.9 KB
	Help Your Child Say "NO" to Gangs	29.8 KB
	Help Keep Gangs Out of Your Community	21.3 KB
	Gang Awareness, Prevention, & Intervention	51.1 KB

Online Gang Resources

• G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training)

• National Youth Gang Center

• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

• National Gang Crime Research Center