Gang Violence

Communities in all 50 states reported that approximately 652,000 gang members are part of 25,000 gangs nationwide.

Gang problems are reportedly worsening in 48 percent of communities, and improving in 10 percent.

Of 3,4447 responding police and sheriff agencies, 1,974 reported youth gang activity in their cities and counties.

Young people join or associate with gangs for a variety of reasons, whether they join the Boy Scouts, the 4-H Club, or the Bloods or Crypts. A search for love, structure and discipline, a sense of belonging and commitment, the need for recognition and power, a sense of self-worth and status, a place of acceptance, and other needs are often fulfilled by gang membership. Research has disclosed a variety of risk factors for joining a gang that is centered around violence and other illegal or illicit activities. While no one cause appears to explain why youths join gangs, the following four risk factors make youth at-risk for membership: racism, poverty, lack of a support network, media influence (Research, 1994, 2).

Whatever the risk factors may be, gang violence appears to be on the rise. A review of some gang-related violence statistics dem

. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Blacks Hispanics, Merton Durkheim, Bloods Crypts, Gang Violence, Delinquency Prevention, Angeles County, gang violence, Gang Center, Protection Online, gang membership, Academy Online, Maryland Maryland, risk factors, gang formation, join gangs, mertons strain theory, 27 sept, people join, gangs gang, online http//wwwgooglecom, violence 1996, gang violence 1996, 27 sept 2000,
Approximate Word count = 926
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Gang Violence