Dangers of Teenage Gangs
In urban areas where the main stream of income is drug-related crime, safety in numbers may mean living one more day to see the sun. If a child grows up seeing that those wearing the wrong colors on the wrong street will instantly face death, he may turn to teenage gangs for protection.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
A teenage gang is a group of people, ages 12 to 17, who congregate on a regular basis with the intent to commit crimes. Teenage gangs are especially known for using intimidation to make money and committing violent crimes as serious as execution-style murders and gang rape. Although teenage gangs and their level of debauchery differ from region to region, the common goal is to protect each other by instigating fear upon outsiders.
Geography
-
Teenage gangs can exist almost anywhere. It was largely thought that teenage gangs only existed in impoverished, urban areas, but teenage gangs have been found in upper-class neighborhoods, too. The 311 Boyz, for instance, was made up of kids who lived in affluent Las Vegas neighborhoods, who were arrested numerous times for violent crimes.
-
Features
-
Teenage gangs often have one older ringleader with several "Number Two" members in charge of smaller units. The ringleader is usually in charge of distributing all earnings among members. Gangs look to get as many members as they can by promising younger teens money, food and a place to stay. The gangs often require some sort of criminal act to be performed as an initiation ritual for new members to show their commitment. Teenage gangs are not limited to males. There are many females involved with teenage gangs, because some authorities are less likely to suspect females of committing crimes. Teen gang members will experience great difficulty getting out of a gang. This usually involves a "jumping out," where all gang members beat the departing member.
Effects
-
Teenage gangs almost always suck up city resources because of their crimes. Police officers spend countless hours investigating crimes committed by teen gangs, because witnesses often won't talk for fear of reprisal. Teen gangs also bring property values down when they choose to commit acts of vandalism, such as spray painting gang signs on public and private property.
Prevention/Solution
-
Teen-gang prevention usually stems from intervention outside of police involvement. If teens are consistently provided with mentorship, jobs and after-school programs, they are less likely to get into trouble. Such programs are especially effective when they target preteens. Groups such as ARISE help prevent gangs by teaching conflict-resolution techniques to teens so they see that violence is not the only solution.
-
