ter in this discussion how his youth plays a major role in the gang member's perception of the world and reality.
The problem is, they don't respect us as gang members or as people. So, what we want to do with the pigs is to keep them out.
Li'l Monster, OG ("original gangster")
As with any segment of society, the law enforcement officer must be aware that he or she is dealing with an individual. If true, communicative dialogue is to be effected, any person needs to be treated - and, especially, perceive that he is being treated - as a human being of individual worth. Building upon that, the interviewer should remain aware that the character of a gang reflects the interactive dynamic of the individuals within it.
It also reflects the segment of society from which the gang draws its membership. The majority of gangs are from environments at or below the poverty line; the roots of their formation and membership derive from economic hardship. That said, it has been noted that there is a growing incidence of lower-middle-class and middle-class gangs forming. According to Los Angeles probation officer Jim Galipeau, a 20-year veteran of police-gang liaison, this new development is "with kids who don't understand what they're doing [as opposed to those choosing the gang lifestyle due to economic conditions]" . The interviewer should note from the beginning from which economic background the interviewee comes.
There is also a difference among gangs
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