Title: Understanding and Avoiding Gangs | mpdc
Headings: 
Understanding and Avoiding Gangs
What is a Gang or Crew?
Who Joins Gangs/Crews and Why?
What Can Parents Do?
What Can Students Do?
Be proactive.
Ask for help. Find a mentor.
Be too busy to get involved.
Change your environment.
Signs of Possible Gang Involvement
Characteristics of Gangs
Download a Brochure
Resources
Community Organizations

Content: Young people who crave excitement because gang members and the media often glamorize the gang life style. Young people who cannot resist peer pressure may join because their friends are in gangs. They may feel pressured to join to be part of the “in” crowd. Young people who are fearful often feel that being a gang member will keep them safe. If they are challenged by others, their gang/crew will help them retaliate because in the gang culture, no challenge goes unanswered. Perversely, this idea of “safety” leads to increased violence. Youth who do not understand the consequences do not fully understand the risks of being in a gang. Risks include arrest, physical assault and in some cases, death. Young people are often recruited by older gang members to commit their criminal acts, because the adults feel that laws are more lenient on juveniles. This, however, is a misconception.