Gangs are groups that claim control over territory and engage in illegal or violent acts. They are often organized by race, ethnicity or activities like money making. Risk factors for joining a gang include lack of family support, poverty, isolation and academic failure. Modern gangs introduce new violent acts as rites of initiation, and there are over 33,000 active gangs in the US with 1.4 million members. Gangs are responsible for an average of 48% of violent crimes and up to 90% in some areas, showing their significant role in gang violence according to the FBI and National Gang Assessment reports.

1. Gang Violence
What is a Gang?
I. A group of recurrently associating individuals or close friends with identifiable
leadership and internal organization, identifying with or claiming control over territory in
a community, and engaging either individually or collectively in violent or other forms of
illegal behavior.
a. Often organized based on race, ethnicity, territory, or money making activities
b. Average age: 8-30 years old
c. Members often wear specific articles of clothing or have tattoos to be recognized as part
of that group
i. Bandanas, scarves, hats
d. Usually involve initiation that needs to be passed
What causes one to join a gang?
1. The need for a sense of family
a. Young people needing more attention than they are receiving at home
2. Need for food or money
3. Desire for protection
4. Peer pressure
a. Desire to appear “cool”
5. Desire for the excitement or thrill of joining
What Factors that put an Individual at Risk of Joining a Gang?
 Lack of employment
 Poverty
 Social isolation
 Domestic violence
 Negative peer networks
 Lack of parental supervision
 Academic failure, lack of academic interest
“The existence of Gangs is one of the Leading factors of growth of violence in cities,” – dosomething.org
Gang violence
II. Illegal and non-political acts of violence perpetrated by gangs against innocent people,
property, or other gangs. Throughout history, such violent acts have been committed by
gangs at all levels of organization. Modern gangs have introduced new acts of violence,
which may function as a rite of passage for new gang members.

2. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, approximately 33,000 violent street
gangs, motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs with about 1.4 million members are
criminally active in the U.S. today.
Many are sophisticated and well organized, and all use violence to control neighborhoods
and boost their illegal money-making activities.
According to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, gangs are responsible
for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions, and up to 90 percent in
others.