The youth gang problem in California has reached epidemic proportions, and it calls for immediate action. Gang members are increasingly younger and more violent. Like a deadly virus, California's gang epidemic has already started infecting other parts of the nation. The criminal court system alone is unable to handle this menace. Solving California's gang problem requires a concerted effort by parents, educators, community leaders, and law enforcement officials, stressing education and training services for youth at risk.
Juvenile offenders are the nation's fastest growing crime problem. While adult violent crime rates have remained fairly steady over the past decade, juvenile offenses have soared. A study by the U.S. Department of Justice reveals that in 1994 approximately 500 arrests were made per 100,000 juveniles (age 10-17) compared to 250 arrests per 100,000 adults (Gest 29). News reports of teenagers commiting violent crimes like murder no longer shock the viewing audience. Only pre-teen criminals capture the public's attention. For instance, a two-year-old girl was killed by boys aged 6 and 10 years old in rural Ohio. And, more recently, a 6-year-old boy in Richmond, California allegedly broke into a home and beat a baby nearly to death. Currently, youth under 18 account for about 20 percent of America's crime (Gest 30). As more and more juveniles commit violent crime, society is questioning the wisdom of the system's traditional emphasis on rehabilitation. Adults want juveniles to become more accountable for their crimes.
Among many violent youths, family values are increasingly being replaced by gang values. In Los Angeles County, which has been called the "gang capital of the world," gang activity accounts for a significant percentage of violent crime: "Gang members were believed responsible for 19 percent of the robberies, 10 percent to 12 percent of the total felonious assaults in the southeast divis...