Title: Children and Youth Gangs - Delinquent behavior in juveniles
Headings: Children and youth gangs – delinquent behavior in juveniles
Children and youth gangs – delinquent behavior in juveniles
Shocking statistics of juvenile gangs
Why teens join youth gangs
Involvement in a youth gang is high-risk behavior
Young people involved with gangs are more likely to:

Content: gang becomes a family)
-need for protection (to protect themselves or their family members from other gangs in neighborhoods where gangs are way of life)
-need for money (better clothes etc., higher social status, respect from others)
-violent history (being exposed to violence inside their family or gang involvement of family member)
-low self-esteem, psychological disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder – ODD)
Involvement in a youth gang is high-risk behavior
Joining a gang is a high-risk behavior which always has deep and serious consequences. Joining a gang disrupts kids’ normal development and prevents them from future success in many ways. The worst and most obvious risks are violence, injuries, and death. Juveniles who are members of gangs usually carry illegal weapons to either protect themselves or retaliate for real or perceived wrongs done to them or to other gang members. Consequences of violent behavior are especially dangerous when there is a climate of war between different gangs or when a young person is imprisoned and recognized as a gang member. Very often the lives and well being of friends and families of those who join gangs are in real danger as well. Young people involved with gangs are more likely to: – use drugs and alcohol; this further leads to possible motor vehicle accidents, violence, problems with social interaction and relationships, risky sexual behavior, infectious diseases, teen pregnancy etc.