NCJ Number
126798
Journal
The Executive Educator Dated: (July 1990) Pages: 13-16
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Youth gangs are no longer the exclusive problem of large metropolitan areas; suburban communities are vulnerable to this problem too.
Abstract
Suburban school officials who battle gangs by trying to pinpoint the "outsiders" are looking in the wrong direction. Gangs typically don't invade suburban schools from the outside, sending out gang members to recruit new members and extending their territory. Instead, gangs grow up almost spontaneously within schools, by default rather than by design. The catalysts are most likely to be transfer students from the city, marginally acquainted with gang paraphernalia and desperately trying to impress their new peers. Some strategies for addressing the problems of gang influence in suburban schools include: (1) becoming aware of the myriad of gang symbols and paraphernalia; (2) identifying the leaders and enlisting their help; (3) addressing the needs of marginal students who might be vulnerable to gangs; (4) maintaining effective communication with law enforcement officials; and (5) educating teaching staff on the latest gang activity in the community.