LEARN ABOUT GANGS>>>

Young people (as young as nine or ten) join gangs for reasons that makes sense to them, if not to adults. They give reasons like these:

. to belong to a group,

. for excitement,

. to get protection,

. to earn money, and

. to be with friends.

Gangs leave signs of their presence. Your child may adopt some of those signs as either a gang member or an imitator:

. specific colors or emblems,

. special hand signals,

. gang symbols on walls as graffiti or on books or clothing,

. major and negative behavior changes, such as:,

• worse grades,
• staying out without good reason,
• "hanging" with known or suspected gang members, or,
• carrying weapons.,

. wearing certain kinds and colors of clothing in very specific ways, and,

. possessing unexplained, relatively large sums of money.

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS AS A PARENT>>>

HOW TO KEEP (OR PUT) GANGS OUT>>>