NCJ Number
147657
Journal
Education Week Volume: 7 Issue: 30 Dated: (April 20, 1988) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the spread of big-city gang culture to smaller cities and towns, identifies some reasons why youth join gangs, profiles gang activity, and describes some gang-prevention programs.
Abstract
Police report that the big-city gang culture of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami is spreading to neighborhoods and cities that have never had a gang problem. Gangs typically form around ethnic allegiances; contemporary gangs are most often composed of African-American, Hispanic, or Asian juveniles who live in inner cities. Gang members tend to be from dysfunctional families that have members who have been in trouble with the law. Gang members usually are some grades behind in their school work and do not envision legitimate jobs as a means for sufficient financial rewards. The lucrative drug enterprises of gangs also attract members who have little hope that they will ever have a well-paying job. Associated with the growth of gang and drug activity has come more and deadlier weapons. Many law enforcement officials speculate that drug trafficking is the primary motive for the expanded recruitment of gang members in cities that have not had the problem before. When gang activity has disrupted the orderliness of school life, school administrators have responded in various ways. Some school administrators have tried to ignore the problem, and others have mounted intensive campaigns to remove gang symbols and guns from school premises. In Paramount, Calif., school officials developed a curriculum to teach fourth and fifth graders about some of the negative consequences of joining gangs. City workers also meet with parents and teach them how to prevent their children from joining gangs. The article includes a report on gang life as reported by a former Philadelphia gang member.