Gang Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Risk factors are variables that increase the likelihood of juveniles becoming involved in gangs. Some of the major risk factors of juvenile gang involvement include: “negative influences in the child's life, child maltreatment, poor parental supervision/involvement, substance use, such as alcohol and drugs, poor educational or employment potential, and community disorganization” (Hawkins and Pollard, 1999). According to a Seattle study, children and youth are two to four times more likely to join gangs if they are affected by these factors. Risk factors are considered at four levels of the social ecology, including: individual, relationship, societal, and community levels.
Individual influences include biological factors as well …show more content…
Risk factors at the peer group level include: “interaction with delinquent peers, street socialization, and friends who use drugs or who are influenced by gang members” (Howell, 2005). Furthermore, risk factors at the family level include: “family disorganization, family violence, family members in a gang, lack of adult and parental role models, and economic deprivation” (Howell, 2005).
Societal factors are institutional patterns of the culture or subculture, such as school. Risk factors at the school level include: “poor school performance, gang members in class, few teacher role models, educational frustration, high levels of anti-social behavior, low attachment to school, and learning difficulties” (Howell, 2005).
Community influences include both formal and informal structures that may influence or determine what happens within relationships. Risk factors at the community level include: “social disorganization, including high poverty and residential mobility, high crime neighborhood, presence of gangs in the neighborhood, availability or perceived access to drugs in the neighborhood, cultural norms supporting gang behavior, and feeling unsafe in neighborhood” (Howell,
Risk factors are variables that increase the likelihood of juveniles becoming involved in gangs. Some of the major risk factors of juvenile gang involvement include: “negative influences in the child's life, child maltreatment, poor parental supervision/involvement, substance use, such as alcohol and drugs, poor educational or employment potential, and community disorganization” (Hawkins and Pollard, 1999). According to a Seattle study, children and youth are two to four times more likely to join gangs if they are affected by these factors. Risk factors are considered at four levels of the social ecology, including: individual, relationship, societal, and community levels.
Individual influences include biological factors as well …show more content…
Risk factors at the peer group level include: “interaction with delinquent peers, street socialization, and friends who use drugs or who are influenced by gang members” (Howell, 2005). Furthermore, risk factors at the family level include: “family disorganization, family violence, family members in a gang, lack of adult and parental role models, and economic deprivation” (Howell, 2005).
Societal factors are institutional patterns of the culture or subculture, such as school. Risk factors at the school level include: “poor school performance, gang members in class, few teacher role models, educational frustration, high levels of anti-social behavior, low attachment to school, and learning difficulties” (Howell, 2005).
Community influences include both formal and informal structures that may influence or determine what happens within relationships. Risk factors at the community level include: “social disorganization, including high poverty and residential mobility, high crime neighborhood, presence of gangs in the neighborhood, availability or perceived access to drugs in the neighborhood, cultural norms supporting gang behavior, and feeling unsafe in neighborhood” (Howell,