Gangs
Definition of a Gang
A criminal street gang is a formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons who have:
- A common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols.
- Members or associates who individually or collectively, engaged in or have engaged in a pattern of youth and street gang activity such as fighting, vandalism, murder, and drug sales.
(Florida Statute 874.03)
What Parents Need To Do
- Know your children’s friends
- Become involved with your children and their interests
- Strive for effective communication between you and your child
- Be knowledgeable of gang signs such as writing, graffiti or tattoos, colors.
- Learn about gangs and drugs.
What To Look for if You Suspect that Your Child May Be in a Gang
Gang Colors and Signs
- Colors refer to a gang member representation of their affiliation by wearing a specific gang logo, particular color of clothing, or clothing worn in a predefined manner. This also includes a particular walk, stance, or the way they fold their arms, and hand movements.
Visual Clues
- Has there been a sudden change in appearance -- like dressing in a particular style or color similar to all the other people they hang around with?
- Have there been any unexplained physical injuries?
- Have they started to use graffiti style ‘tags’ (signatures) on possessions, school books, walls, or buildings?
- Have they started displaying signs of group behavior: ways of talking and acting, in line with other members of the group, or perhaps using hand signs?
Communication
- Hand signals and gang slang are means of communication.
- Symbols formed and flashed with the fingers, hands, and body have specific meaning to gang members. This is called stacking when communicating with other members.
Behavioral Signs
- Poor progress in school or truancy.
- Lack of interest in hobbies or problems at home.
- Frequent contact with law enforcement.
- Clothing can also be a sign of gang affiliation such as wearing certain colors.
- Do they have a new nickname?
- Is there a new person in their life who they appear to be influenced or led by?
- Do you think they might be using or dealing drugs?
Why Youths Join Gangs
- Some are drawn by parties, girls, and drugs.
- Some are looking for respect and power.
- Some find a feeling of caring and attention in a gang. It becomes almost a family to them.
- Some want to make money -- to help out at home or to have nice clothes, etc.
- Some join for self-protection, because they are picked on by other gang members.
- Some grow up in a neighborhood where it is almost a way of life.
- Most have some real or imagined problem at home that makes them prefer the streets.
- Some gang members are addicted to drugs. The problems at home can become worse, because parents don't know how to cope with their addiction.
Things Parents May Not Know
- Girls are increasingly likely to be gang members.
- Gangs will often have profiles on networking websites like Myspace or Bebo; so be aware of what your child is doing on the internet.
- Internet chat rooms and text messages can be used to bully people into joining gangs; bullying, intimidation and peer pressure play a large part in gang recruitment.
- Chat rooms and texts can also be used to organize crime or violence.
