Lynn Russell

School Safety and Gang Prevention Specialist

PH: 254-297-1110

Email: lrussell@esc12.net

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Gang Facts

Gang Violence Facts:

• Gunshot wounds are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.
• It is estimated that firearms are used in 80 to 85% of gang-related homicides.
• Membership in a street gang increases one's risk of violent death by 60%.

Gang Assaults on Authority Figures:

• Gang members earn 'juice' (respect) from other gang members when they commit assaults on authority figures.
• Planned assaults of authority figures are not considered as 'juice-worthy' as unplanned, random assaults.
• More than 33% of hardcore gang members claim to have assaulted teachers.
• The ultimate assault on an authority figure by a gang member is to attack a law officer; next is a school administrator; then a teacher; then a staff member such as an aide or a secretary.
• More Crips commit assaults on school personnel than members of any other gang.
  

Gang Signs: Baggy jeans and the gangbanger look have been adopted by some young people as fashion statements, and do not necessarily mean gangs have arrived at your school. However, the origin of 'sagging and bagging' was to conceal weapons and drugs, and the style still serves that purpose for gang member Other signs: Graffiti on buildings, curbs, car washes, street signs, parks, public and school bathrooms Presence of groups of youths affecting gang behavior, dress, and activity Growing citizen complaints of youth groups causing fear and intimidation in the area Rumors of gang activity and fights Fighting between groups of young people Escalation of crimes, especially crimes of violence Senseless violence Growing vandalism, auto thefts, robberies, muggings, break-ins, and burglaries Crimes committed with weapons Increase in drug trafficking and use

Hand Signs and Grafitti:

Each street gang develops its own hand signs, a non-verbal system of communication which is used for identification or to challenge, insult, and show disrespect for other gangs and non-gang individuals, particularly law enforcement personnel.

Gang graffiti is used by gangs as an informal bulletin board or newsletter to:

• Communicate and send messages
• Declare the gang's existence and presence in the community
• Identify the gang
• Communicate territorial limits and mark turf to define area claimed by the gang
• Claim affiliation with other gangs
• Advertise and glorify the gang and its exploits
• Issue challenges and announce warnings of future acts and retaliation
• Show disrespect to enemy gangs

Recent Trends in Gangs:

• Younger and younger active members (eight or nine years old)
• Ethnic and racial crossover in multiethnic neighborhoods
• Insurgence of female gangs
• Growth of gangs in suburban communities
• Acquisitions of large sums of money from illegal activities
• Increased use of drugs and alcohol
• Use of more organized guerrilla warfare tactics
• Total disregard for human life

And in the Future?

1. Local gangs will continue to evolve from criminal street gangs to organized crime status.
2. All time highs will be reached in gang violence and drug activity.
3. Violence will be carried out with more sophisticated communication, weapons, and procedures.
4. Gangs will utilize the newest and best technology in their activities.
5. Big time gangs will become more business oriented and use more legitimate businesses as fronts for gang activity.
6. Gang membership will increase, particularly during recessions and depressions.
7. Youths will become gang members at younger and younger ages.
8. More members remain active in their gangs longer than before, well past their twenties and into their forties.
9. Gangs will change their traditional characteristics and identification methods in order to better escape detection; new methods will arise.
10. The number and type of racially motivated gangs and hate groups will increase, and they will find new groups to hate and mistreat
11. There will be marked increases in the number of female gangs and the number of female gang members in both all-female and co-ed gangs
12. Gang members will outnumber and out-gun available law enforcement authorities.
13. Street gangs and prison gangs will become more closely aligned and subsequently more powerful both inside prisons and in the public.
14. Courts and prisons will be overloaded with gang cases; probation and parole officers will be swamped with gang cases.
15. Female gangs will become more common, more independent of male gangs, and more involved in more serious crimes.
16. Gangs growth and gang violence will increase as the drug trade increases.
17. Youth gangs will become more organized and a greater threat to society.
18. Gang members will enter the gang at earlier ages and remain active in gangs longer, with gangs eventually having a higher percentage of adult members.
19. Gangs will become more sophisticated and organized, and will attempt to cover their criminal activities behind the guise of community service or legitimate business corporations.
20. Gangs will become less ethnically pure.
21. Adult prison gang members returning to their communities will create, re-create, or energize local youth into more organized and dangerous gangs.
22. Few communities will have programs that will deal effectively with gangs.
23. Gangs and gang problems will proliferate throughout the United States down to the smallest cities and towns.