Website: http://www.s Notes: topmanteca gangs.

com/c Acceptance - Many kids feel that they are not getting the attention they believe they deserve at home. They start looking for this attention and ms/index.ph love in other places and often find what they are looking for in a gang. The gang essentially becomes their family. p? option=com Excitement - This group of kids love the high of committing crimes and getting away with it. They often do their crimes just to be chased by the _content&vie police. These individuals are adrenaline junkies and love the thrill of criminal activity. w=article&id =14:why-do- To earn money - More and more, we are seeing gang members turn towards using the gang to make a profit through illegal activities. Selling narcotics, robberies, burglaries, auto thefts, and other property crimes are common in many gangs. Many gangs specialize in specific criminal kids-joinactivity. gangs&catid =31:bullying Peer Pressure - If your kids are hanging around gangs and gang members, you can almost guarantee that they are being pressured to join the &Itemid=61 gang. It is important to know who your children are associating with.
Protection - In poor neighborhoods and neighborhoods with high gang activity, kids often have to join a gang just to survive. It is often easier to join the gang than to be victimized on a daily basis.

To Socialize - The best parties in town are gang parties. Easy access to liquor, narcotics, and girls are attractive to potential gang recruits. Young males who have a hard time socializing and talking to girls find girls often with in gangs.

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There are many reasons why kids join gangs, but like most youth activities, whether criminal or otherwise, most kids join gangs for companionship and love.

The desire to belong to a gang may stem from a variety of motives, but the one thing all gangs have in common is a claim on turf and territory. A gangs turf may be a block, a neighborhood, or an entire area of the city. Members wear the gang colors, or a particular style of clothes and symbols, which usually indicates luxury and power in certain neighborhoods. Gangs have leaders, and sometimes officers. Drug gangs are different from other kinds of gangs. They are more organized, and much more dangerous. They are responsible for the distribution of illegal drugs from marijuana to cocaine, and heroin to meth. Gang members often sell drugs, carry drugs and large amounts of cash, and protect dealers and other gang members from police or rival gangs.

The drug trade is harsh and dangerous. Lower rung drug dealers do not drive BMWs, wear gold jewelry, or get rich quick. They work around the clock, six or seven days a week, for low wages, often enforced by the threat of violence. Gang murders are committed to increase profits, to control renegade members, and to protect existing territories and markets. The more cunning and brutal the gang, the better its chances of success. One misconception about joining a gang is the thought of getting rich. Some young people think gang members are rich, drive expensive cars, and dont have to work. However, very few gang members get rich. Most of their money goes in one hand and out the other to support flash and style rather than for living. Drug dealing is actually hard and dangerous work. Dealers are always on the job. Many use pagers so if someone wants to buy drugs they can get in touch with them at any time of the day or night. They are always on guard, watching for police or rival gangs. They are constantly in danger of being killed. The odds of surviving are not in their favor.

There are different reasons for different kids. Some are drawn by parties, girls, & drugs. Some are looking for a sense of 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 gangs. 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. As their drug addiction grows, their problems at home become worse because parents don't know how to cope with the addiction

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http://people .missouristat e.edu/micha elcarlie/what _i_learned_a bout/gangs/ why_do_kids _join_crimina l_street.htm

There are all kinds of reasons for joining a gang, but like most youth activities, whether criminal or otherwise, most young males and females join gangs for companionship and love. The desire to belong to a gang may stem from a variety of motives, but the one thing all gangs have in common is a claim on turf, or territory. A gangs turf may be one block, a neighborhood, or an entire area of the city. Members wear the gangs colors, or a particular style of clothing and symbols, which many times may indicate luxury or power in a particular neighborhood. Certain social behavior, such as association with gang members and knowledge of gang signs, may also be a matter of survival . Many young males have to make peace with local gangs to go to school, work or merely walk down a street in their neighborhood. Each gang has a leader, and sometimes other officers. Drug gangs are different from other kinds of gangs. They are much more organized, and much more dangerous. They are responsible for the distribution of illegal drugs from marijuana to cocaine and heroin to methamphetamine Gang members are required to sell drugs, carrying drugs and large amounts of cash and to protect dealers and other gang members from police or rival gangs. The drug trade is harsh and dangerous, lower rung drug dealers do not drive BMWs,

http://daman 92.hubpages .com/hub/W hy-do-TeensJoin-gangs

wear gold jewelry, or get rich quick. They work around the clock, six or seven days a week, for low wages, often enforced by the threat of violence. Murders are committed in order to realize the gangs goals of increasing profits, controlling renegade members, protecting existing territories and markets, and terrorizing competitors. The more cunning and brutal the gang, the better its chances of success. Their activities are not localized, they span cities, towns and in some cases, states. One of the biggest misconceptions about joining a gang is the thought of getting rich. Some young people think gang members are rich, drive expensive cars, and dont have to work. However, very few gang members get rich. Most of their money goes in one hand and out the other to support flash and style rather than for living. They do not live luxurious or glamorous lives.

Gangs exist to fulfill some needs people feel are lacking in their lives. First is belonging. Usually the typical gang member is either an outcast of the community, or sometimes someone alienated from or by his/her family. They join a gang to achieve togetherness, and they find comfort in this group. Second is financial. There is money to be made in the gang, usually through sales of illegal drugs, but sometimes through auto theft, extortion, prostitution, arson, or general thefts. And as the person works harder for the gang, the profit realized is increased as well. Finally, there is strength, either real or perceived. Ther is no doubt strength in numbers, and that is what the gangs rely on for intimidation, networking of ther goods (ie drugs, stolen auto parts, etc.), and notoriety. When you hear a gang member say he/she does not like the attention, you know THAT one is lying! Ever see this guys on TV? Mugging it up, talking a mile a minute, but usually having their faces covered by the correct colored bandana.