Youth Gang Violance

Youth Gang Violence 2

Gangs are defined in many ways, and most definitions have similar components. One common definition of a gang is a group of three or more individuals who engage in criminal activity and identify themselves with a common name or sign. Gang activity remains a widespread problem across the United States, with prevalence rates remaining significantly elevated in 2008 compared with recorded lows in the early 2000s. The National Gang Center estimates that 32.4 percent of all cities, suburban areas, towns, and rural counties (more than 3,330 jurisdictions served by city and county law enforcement agencies) experienced gang problems in 2008. This represents a 15-percent increase from the 2002."(Highlights of the 2008 National Youth Gang Survey, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2010) Incarceration does little to disrupt the violent activities of gang-affiliated inmates. The line between prison and street gangs is becoming muddied as gang members flow in and out of the correctional system. Certainly, law enforcement has a difficult task in attempting to address this evolving and longstanding problem. Still, the enduring nature of street gangs, as well as their diverse and dynamic nature, poses a unique challenge."(Street Gangs and Interventions: Innovative Problem Solving with Network Analysis, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2005)

Gang life for most youth has become a lucrative attraction and an intense allure of a game. In today's society it is easy to see how the attraction to gang life can seem appealing in the eyes of today's youth, with the glorification of gangsters in movies and pop culture. The attraction seems close to comfort, as a love affair between two mates. We are brainwashed into thinking that this lifestyle is a great example of how we should go from boys to men. In

Youth Gang Violence 3

today's society most gang members come from broken homes, poor neighborhoods, drug addicted parents and abusive environments where the only outlet is to join a gang or be part of some of activity. I believe it must be a way out for our youth. It has to be a brighter day and better future for tomorrow. The parents, community and local government have to start getting on board to deter our teens from destruction.

In the urban environment sports is usually seen as a way out of the ghetto but only a chosen few ever make it. Those kids left behind fall by the wayside and into the traps of gang life because academics were never first on the priority list. Growing up in Atlanta, I have seen my share of street violence, gang initiation, turf wars and ultimately death. Stopping gang violence is not an easy thing when you do not offer gang members an alternative to gang life. In my opinion, parents in my neighborhood focus too much on sports and too little