NCJ Number
130374
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 57 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1990) Pages: 24-25
Date Published
1990
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The emergence of a youth street gang problem and its current status is described for the small community of Bellingham, Washington.
Abstract
Under the guise of a rap singing group, the gang was developed in 1988 at a local teen club by outside organizers from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. Members include juveniles from low income families, often single parent homes, with low self esteem, poor school performance, and no peer groups. Law enforcement measures included a detective position on the Special Investigations Unit of the Bellingham Police Department (BPD), Formation of a Gang Enforcement Team (GET) by the Patrol Division of the BPD, implementation of a tracking system for identified gang members, and assistance of other agencies. Prevention of gang expansion occurred at the county level with briefings for school officials, parents, and gang members' families who formed the Parents Against Gang Entrapment (PAGE). The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program was implemented as well. Most important in the deterrence of gang expansion was the acknowledgment of a gang problem by the community of Bellingham.