The Reasons Why Children Join Gangs

The problems in dysfunctional families can contribute to the reasons why children join a gang. The dysfunctional part of dysfunctional families can be exhibited in many ways. It could be that either parent or neither parent is in a child’s life at all. Or it could be that one or both parents are working multiple jobs to make ends meet which in turn leaves a child alone a lot. Other dysfunctional problems could be physical, sexual or mental abuse within the family. Often times, if a gang member is already in the family, it will lead a child into the vicious cycle of becoming a gang member. The kids from dysfunctional families that join gangs are looking for the things that a family is supposed to provide for children. If things like interest in a child’s education, stability, comfort, safety, and love were provided for a child in a family, they would not go looking for a gang to provide those things for them.
Paton writes that "The lack of positive role models, the absence of a father in the home combined with too much freedom were seen to result in groups of young people with no respect for their elders” (Paton 2008). He (Paton 2008) writes that in dysfunctional families, homes where children are not raised properly, children can look to gangs for a sense of belonging, for acceptance or protection (Paton