There is no one particular indicator that your child is involved in gang activity but a combination of signs is a good indication that your child has some type of gang affiliation or contact with a gang. Some of the signs of gang involvement are:
Lack of interest in school/grades dropping
Often absent from school
Disciplinary problems/lack of self-control
Graffiti in school books/notebooks
Tattoos or symbols on themselves or their clothing
Always wearing the same colored clothing
Dropping of old friends/hanging-out with a tougher crowd
Using slang language and nicknames
Refusing to account for their time spent away from home and who they were with.
Possessing large sums of money
Drug and alcohol usage
Possessing weapons
Gang Recruitment
Gang members try to make people believe that their particular gang is the strongest of all. They also try to portray gang life as exciting and prosperous. However, the first step in joining a gang is to be beaten by members of the gang. This is only the beginning of an unpleasant life style. Street gangs use fear, intimidation and a false sense of protection to recruit members.
Gang members fit a profile: very often they are unemployed; exhibit poor work and study habits in school; are in trouble with the police at an early age; and receive little guidance or attention from family members at home.
Children with a low self esteem and a lack of parental guidance are the most vulnerable to fall victim to gang recruitment.
Gang Activities
The number one source of income for street gang members is the sale of drugs. Listed below are other crimes that street gang members commit while protecting the distribution of drugs and protecting what they believe is the turf (territory).
Intimidation
Drug Trafficking
Robberies
Burglaries
Theft
Criminal Damage to Property
Assaults
Aggravated Battery (including shootings)
Homicide
The longer a person is involved in a gang, the more serious the crimes become. Once a street gang has claimed a neighborhood, the potential for gang fights, shootings, and criminal damage to property will increase.
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