f any, tough penalties on juvenile offenders.
. Many youths have little parental oversight and are too easily influenced by gang membership and glamorized violence in popular culture.
. Loosely organized gangs present the biggest concern for law enforcement officials because they are hard to investigate and their members often commit random acts of crime out of self-protection.
. Offenses committed by people using firearms pose a major threat not only to communities, but also to police. So-called "straw purchases," where gun owners buy their firearms through a go-between is an area of concern (Youth gangs contribute to rising crime rates, 2007, p. 1).
Such gangs are found throughout the nation, but are more prevalent in metropolitan areas and in poor communities. It has been suggested, according to Macionis (2003), that in the United States, delinquency and gang membership alike are most pronounced among lower class youth because these individuals have the least opportunity to achieve success. Delinquent subcultures are common and are characterized by frequent conflict with authorities, a value placed on toughness and aggression, the ability to succeed on the streets, a need for excitement, a belief in fate, and a desire for freedom.
Many young people who are isolated, disenchanted with mainstream American values, or who believe they will not succeed in the mainstream may be attracted to gangs for their sense of empowerment and status.
There is an ongoing debate as to what strategies represent the best practices for coping with juvenile delinquency and delinquents themselves. The juvenile justice system has in recent decades evolved from an emphasis on punishment to a new focus on treatment and rehabilitation, often through community-based supervision and probation strategies (DeAngelo,
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