Gangs

Gangs When we look at the development of the crime and violence in our streets, we must look at the development of what society calls gangs. We must also first look at the definition of the word. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary says it is a word of Old English origin and refers to a group of hooligans or roughnecks that run through the streets causing mayhem. It is also believed that these children do not have parents or that the parents have no control over their children. We, as a society, must ask ourselves why do these children come together, and what is the behavior and characteristics that brings them together. Gangs’ researchers agree that most share certain behaviors and characteristics. Although there are exceptions, gangs tend to develop along racial and ethnic lines, and are typically 90 percent male (Bodinger-deUriarte, 1993). Gang members often display their membership through distinctive styles of dress, their “colors”, and through specific activities use the same patterns of behavior. In addition, gangs almost universally show strong loyalty to their neighborhood, often marking out their territory with graffiti (Gaustad, 1991). In generally all the cases, this behavior is because of a loyalty to what is termed gangs, school, gang, schools, members, students, groups, violence, youth, often, offer, been, activities, 1993, support, programs, parents, must, bodinger-deuriarte, through, streets, strategy, respond, particularly, out, new, join, family, even, develop, addition, about, offer, though, student