Youth Gangs

Since the late 1800s, gangs have been in existence. These groups have had many negative effects on society for many years. These youth groups or gangs, as they are commonly called, such as the Bloods, Crips, and Vice Lords have participated in many criminal and illegal acts that have plagued society. They have been stereotyped with such negative names as bad kids, troublemakers, and many other mischievous names.
These young gangs have long been present in the United States, but were previously only in large urban centers. This changed dramatically in the late 1980s (Miller, 1980), when youth gangs started to appear in smaller cities and suburban areas across the United States along with a rapid rise in their numbers and membership (Miller,
1980). By 1982, a study by Miller showed that an estimate 2,300 youth gangs, with 100,000 members, were found in 300 cities. Multiple reasons for this increase have been presented, including the economy and growth of an urban underclass, crack cocaine and other drug trade, gang migration, and gang subculture in the popular media (Miller, 1980). There is little agreement on this issue except that it was most likely the result of several factors.
Crime plays a big role in gangs.
Most gang related crimes are committed between members of opposing gangs, although innocent citizens are often hit by stray bullets. They may also be victims of gang crimes such as robbery, burglary, and auto theft. Gang members participate in all forms of criminal activity, either for personal or economic gain, for revenge against another gang, or out of hate for the victim. Crimes committed include, among others, assault with a deadly weapon, arson, grand theft, sale/possession of narcotics, and murder. The weapons in theses crimes have become more sophisticated in recent years, evolving from hands, feet and knives to automatic handguns, automatic rifles, sawed-off shotguns, and in some cases, pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails, and hand grenades (Interview, 1985). The majority of gang-related homicides can be blamed on drive-by shootings, which is the type of crime committed most frequently by gangs. In some gangs the drive-by is the rite of initiation for new members. Full acceptance into the gang might include the shooting of a rival gang member. And these members can be from anywhere from the ages of 8 to 30. With forty percent of gangs being juveniles, kids as young as eight years of age begin running errands for the leaders of the gang, this including girls of the gangs as well. Because girls also want to have that sense of power and group bond that the boys in the neighborhood
share.
Another effect of gangs is a sense of belonging to a family unit.
Members receive a sense of identity and recognition from being in a gang. It sets them apart from their peers and gives them a sense of power and success. Alone these youth may feel small, powerless, and inadequate. They lack direction. Belonging to a gang, however, makes them feel strong and invincible (Interview, 1985). Gangs use this recruitment pitch sometimes, "There is another family waiting for you- all you have to do is join or join or get beat up or be a “momma’s boy.” This pitch particularly appeals to children from single-parent families" (Miller, 1980). In many cases, there is no positive role model. They look to other gang members and see them as people who will pay attention to them. In a gang everyone is accepting and works together for the common goal of the gang. It provides them with a sense of meaning and direction. "The need for family, for those who love and accept us, is a powerful human need. Either as parents we supply it, or the gangs
will.

We hear the stories about abused, abandoned children. We hear about drug-addicted mothers and absent fathers. We hear about children forced to fend for themselves in a cold, hard world. It's no wonder kids join gangs. They need someone to care. They are looking for a sense of belonging and family.
Many of the images of gangs, are based primarily on media reports, include the use of alcohol and drugs. People tend to believe that gangs sell drugs to make extra money or even that many of them are structured as mini-corporations and are heavily involved in the drug trade. However, some research suggests that this is not generally the case; while many gang members use alcohol and illegal drugs, most are not heavily involved in selling drugs (Miller, 1980). It’s more about using the gang to get drugs for themselves then to sell them on the street. The life of a gang member comes across very glamorous with the “jewelry, clothes, and cash, but these adolescents who join are exposed to dangers that others are able to avoid.
Gangs are not a new problem, and they are not likely to disappear anytime soon. Drug use creates addicts who are not productive members of society. Drug dealers support the habits, and make a living in a highly illegal manner. When people feel a deep sense of belonging to gangs and not to a family, values and morals tend to decline. Lastly, increased crime due to gang violence and other gang activity hurts everyone involved, including innocent bystanders. Their effects on society are long lasting and have negative impacts in communities across the country.