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 The scene was an inner city urban neighborhood. About 25 young people were gathered for a baby shower. It was a quiet party on an early spring night. The cool air kept most of the party-goers inside for most of the evening.
At about 10:30 P.M., two of the young men at the party decided to walk up to the corner store to buy more soda. About three minutes after the boys left the house, those still at the party were startled by the sound of semi-automatic gunfire just outside. When the first of them got out to the street, they found both boys on the ground, and were just in time to see a young man jump into a car and speed away. Gang violence wasn’t new to the Main South neighborhood in Worcester, Massachusetts. In the preceding weeks, police had responded to numerous calls about gunshots fired and drug dealing from several houses in the neighborhood. It was so common, in fact, that this incident, in which a 15 year old boy was shot in the thigh and a 16 year old boy escaped injury, didn’t even make the newspapers. One family remembers it well, though. Their home was on the corner directly across the street from the party. The hail of semi-automatic fire put over 50 bullets into the side of the home in which they lived. Three of those bullets came through the walls of their home and were found on the floor and the beds of the four and five year old brothers who shared the bedroom facing the street. It was pure luck that the two boys had fallen asleep on the living room couch that night rather than in their beds. Had they not, their mother is certain they would have been two new statistics in the rising number of children injured and killed in gang-related violence every year. Youth Gang Statistics According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice: 341,000 violent crimes were committed by gang members in 2003. Victims believed their assailants were gang members in 12% of aggravated assaults, 4% of rapes, 10% of robberies and 6% of simple assaults. 12% of all violent crimes against youth between the ages of 12 and 19 are believed to be gang-related. This number drops to 6% between the ages of 20 and 49, and 4% for victims over age 50. 5-7% of all homicides reported nationwide are gang-related. 8-10% of all homicides committed with a firearm are gang-related. Among the respondents to a national survey on gang activity, 95% of the jurisdictions reporting gang activity reported gang activity in one or more local high schools. 91% reported gang activity in one or more intermediate schools in their districts.
In the National Youth Gang Survey published by the U.S. Department of Justice, 100% of cities with populations over 250,000 reported that they had youth gangs operating in their jurisdiction. 70% of all large cities reported that they had active youth gangs. It doesn’t stop with the cities, though. 91% of large suburban areas reported active youth gangs, and 50% of suburban areas with over 10,000 population reported active youth gangs. Even rural America isn’t free of youth gang activity. Between 21% and 41% of rural counties in the United States report that they have active youth gangs. In fact, according to one published report: "Once found principally in large cities, violent street gangs now affect public safety, community image, and quality of life in communities of all sizes in urban, suburban, and rural areas. No region of the United States is untouched by gangs. Gangs affect society at all levels, causing heightened fears for safety, violence, and economic costs"
Defining Our Terms and Prevalence According to the definition used by the Department of Justice, a ‘gang’ is ‘a group of three or more individuals who engage in criminal activity and identify themselves with a common name or sign. The primary components are that the purpose is to engage in criminal activity, and that the individuals identify themselves with a common name or sign. While the reports from the Justice Department and Juvenile Justice Department make the point that gangs are operating in every type of environment, it’s also clear that the prevalence varies greatly with the size and type of county/community surveyed. For instance, 60% of the cities with more than 250,000 population reported that there were more than 30 different gangs operating in their jurisdiction. By contrast, 80% of the cities with 100,000 to 250,000 population reported that there were less than 30 gangs operating in their jurisdiction, with most stating there were between 7 and 16, and over 50% of rural communities reported three or fewer gangs operating in their jurisdiction.
From those statistics, it’s obvious that urban and suburban youth in large centers are far more likely to be involved with a gang, and that there are far more gangs with which they can be involved. Those numbers also suggest that there may be a difference in the way that gangs are being defined. For years, law enforcement organizations have divided ‘gang activity’ along national and local lines. The heads of many police organizations felt that if there was no sign of national gang affiliations, there was no gang problem. The reality is that even a small gang of half a dozen teenagers can carry on a reign of terror in a neighborhood if left unchecked.
"A youth gang is an organization of tightly bonded youth who are joined together and controlled by a criminal leader. A gang is often conceived and nurtured by an individual who uses it as a vehicle to raise himself or herself to a position of power among his or her peers”
Compare that with the reasons that bullies give for bullying and you’ll see that there’s very little difference. A gang or gangs can hold a community in the same kind of stranglehold that a bully can have on his or her victim.
Gangs practice organized bullying as a means of gaining respect, enforcing rules and intimidating both their own members and outsiders to the gang. A student who doesn’t want to be a member of a gang may be intimidated or harassed into joining. One who tries to leave may be beaten down. A member of a rival gang may be intimidated by a group of gang members as a means to gain ‘respect’, reputation or retaliation. Because of the importance of these three things in most gang cultures, violence can arise from anything that is perceived as a slight to a member of the gang or to the gang as a whole.
Gangs In the Hallways Gangs in the neighborhoods almost invariably means signs of gangs in the schools. The good news for educators is that statistically, most gang violence happens outside the schools. The bad news is that the mere presence of students who are gang members in the school increases the fear and anxiety reported by students in national surveys. Students in schools with a reported gang presence were almost twice as likely to report being afraid of being attacked while in school, and more than twice as likely to report being afraid of being attacked on their way to or from school. The atmosphere of fear created by street gang presence in a community does creep into the hallways at school, even when the violence is left at the school doors. As one educator succinctly put it, “What happens on the weekends, we deal with Monday morning.”
Many schools have attempted to put a damper on the gang presence in their hallways by cracking down on the wearing of gang colors or insignia, and by making rules against students using hand signs or other gang signs on school property. While this may mask the problem, it does little to ease fears when most students in the school know who belongs to which gang, and understand the social codes far better than teachers and administration. It is, however, a vital part of establishing the school as a neutral ground where gang alliances will not be allowed to disrupt schooling and life. It is only one part of a gang violence prevention strategy, though.
Gang Violence Prevention – The School’s Role Any attempt to curb gang activity must look far deeper than the surface signs and signals exchanged by gang members. As with bullying, understanding why children join gangs and providing them with options is the key to eliminating their threat. The reasons that youth join gangs vary, but for most it is:
Belonging – Joining a gang gives youngsters a sense of belonging to something bigger and more powerful than themselves. Protection - Gangs provide a sense of family and of protection. As long as the youngster is a member of the gang, he knows that fellow gang members ‘got his back’ against the world. Status – Belonging to a gang can earn status in the neighborhood, and give a youngster credibility on the street. Identity – Similar to feeling as if they belong to something special, joining a gang can give a youngster a sense of identity – he’s not just some kid, he’s a member of the Crips, or the Kings or another gang. Discipline – While discipline may seem an odd reason for joining a gang, in reality many youngsters join gangs because there is a strict code which they are expected to follow. Especially for children who feel adrift without a strong authority figure, the discipline offered by a gang can seem a strong port in a stormy world. Profit – Gaining money and belongings through gang activity is obviously a big draw to children who may have grown up in poverty and disadvantage. Gang members have the money and the power to entice youngsters to be part of their organization when there is nothing else offering them a chance at anything.
Who Belongs to Gangs? Gangs cross cultural, racial and gender barriers, and form for different reasons. In order to create an effective gang violence prevention strategy, it’s important to assess who belongs to gangs, and what the gangs offer to their members. According to statistics, gangs:
Develop along racial or ethnic lines Are male-dominated organizations, though there is increasing female presence Claim a specific turf as their territory Operate as an organization Display symbols in tattoos, hand signs, colors, dress, graffiti, language
The typical gang member:
is between the ages of 15 and 24. 76% of gang members are 15-24 years old. Is male. Less than 5% of gangs are female dominated. May be of any race, with predominance varying by type of community and region. 47% of gang members were reported to be Hispanic, 34% African American, 12% Caucasian and 6% Asian. Is involved in the sale and/or use of drugs. 27% of all districts reporting in a national survey estimated that all or most gang members in their districts were involved in drug sales. Other crimes that youth gang members were reported to be involved with were robbery, aggravated assault, theft and motor vehicle theft. Is more likely to carry a gun than a non-gang member. However, in areas with a large gang visibility, non-gang members are also more likely to carry guns for protection.
Students from poor neighborhoods are most likely to belong to gangs than those from more affluent neighborhoods. This has started changing recently as movies, music and other media have glamourized gang lifestyle, and made it ‘cool’ to be part of a gang – or at least act as if you are.
What Schools Can Do The single most important thing that any school can do to combat the harm done by gang presence is to make it clear that school is neutral ground. There are a number of ways to make the school’s stand clear and consistent.
Dress code- Prohibit the wearing of gang colors or insignia on school grounds. Some schools have opted for uniforms to eliminate the need for policing subtle signals and colors. Establish a no-tolerance rule for weapons on school grounds. Establish a no-tolerance rule for drug possession on school grounds. Establish a no-tolerance rule for hand-signs and gang-signs. Paint over graffiti immediately to make it clear that school property is nobody’s turf. Work with other community organizations in a multi-pronged approach to combat gang and youth violence. Establish conflict resolution programs to help teach conflict resolution skills to all students. Be aware of what goes on in the neighborhood, and watchful for signs of gang influence in the school. Establish after-school programs or extended day programs to give youth alternatives to gang-sponsored or related activities. Establish a community of respect for all members of the school – no dissing allowed.
Warning Signs of Gang Involvement Steve Nawojczyk, a national figure in the fight against gangs, gives the following advice for parents who suspect their child may be a member of or target of gang activity. Warning Signs First, be aware that these signs are not conclusive proof, even if several of them are present. They are simply warning signs. If you suspect that your child is involved in gang activity, the best thing you can do is talk to them.
(1) admits to being involved with a gang; (2) always wears one color or combination of colors, or logos (3) wears a lot of jewelry, especially if he wears it only on one side of the body (5) is obsessed with gangsta music, movies and videos (6) withdraws from the family accompanied by a change in attitude (7) associates with gang members and breaks parental rules consistently; (8) develops an unusual desire for privacy and secrecy (9) uses hand signs while with friends and practices them at home;
In addition, these signs may indicate that your child is involved in gang activities or may be being harassed by a gang.
Physical injury consistent with being beaten drawings or graffiti on schoolbooks, walls, etc, or peculiar tattoos unexplained cash or goods, clothing, jewelry, CDs, electronics, etc Using alcohol and drugs with a change in attitude
If you live in an area where there is a gang presence, you should take the following steps to try to protect your children.
Inform yourself. Know the local gang colors, insignia and signs so that you know what you’re looking for. Advise your children to stay clear of gang members. Tell them not to identify or communicate with gang members. Advise them not to wear gang-related clothing in areas where gangs are known to hang out. Know gang lingo, and teach them not to use it in places where gangs may gather to avoid accidentally giving offense. Avoid hanging out in areas that are heavily graffiti’ed, and don’t take part in graffiti activities. Advise them not to use any kind of finger or sign language in public places. Spend time talking with your children and involving them in activities with you. The more involved they are with family, the less they’ll feel the need for a substitute. Get involved with their school activities. Make rules and be consistent and fair in enforcing them. Encourage good study habits, and emphasize the importance of school and education. Provide healthy outlets and activities. Team sports or other organized activities help provide a stable framework outside the home and give a child a good way to build self esteem. Respect your child’s feelings and insist that he or she give the same respect to others. Remember that you are a role model for your child. Act the way that you want him or her to act.
Handling Extreme Bullying One of the most frightening statistics having to do with gangs and gang activity in schools is the fact that:
When there is gang activity in a community or a school, both members of gangs and those who are not members of gangs are far more likely to carry weapons, including firearms. And that increases the likelihood that someone will be seriously or fatally injured exponentially.
Nearly all schools now have a zero tolerance policy for weapons, but many students still manage to bring weapons into the school – and there is always the danger of being confronted by someone with a weapon outside school grounds. When there is the danger of a weapon being involved in bullying, the single most important thing to do is protect yourself. Impress these rules upon your children:
If you see someone with a weapon, or believe that someone has one, walk the other way, quickly. Get out of their range and seek safety as quickly and quietly as possible. TELL. This is a situation where lives could be at stake. Find an adult that you trust immediately and tell them what you saw. If there is no one that you trust to protect your confidentiality, then make an anonymous call to the school office, or call 911 and ask them to keep your identity a secret. Tell them what you saw, what type of weapon it was, who was involved and anything else you can remember. Write it down. As soon as you can after the incident, write down everything that you can remember while it is still fresh in your mind. Include who was involved, what kind of weapon it was, where it happened, whether it was reported and what was done about it. This will help you remember what happened if you’re asked about it later. Avoid situations where you will be at risk. It’s far easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble. Whenever possible, walk with friends. Avoid areas that you know gangs frequent, and avoid being alone where bullies might find you. Get friends or an adult to walk with you, and build a ‘shield’ of people around you. If someone threatens you with a weapon, GET HELP. This is not a situation that you can or should handle by yourself. Do not try to defend yourself or fight – it could trigger the bully to actually use the weapon. Instead, run as fast as you can and yell “FIRE!!!” Once you’ve gotten away from the bully, you MUST tell someone what happened. If you see someone being threatened with a weapon, do not be a hero. Instead, walk away as quickly and unobtrusively as possible and get help from an adult.
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Bully Solutions
