Greene County JCPC Gang Identification and Prevention

Greene County JCPC

Gang Identification and Prevention

Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-Center for the

Prevention of School Violence

Perceptions of Youth Gangs

1. Most street gang members are juveniles.

False - The 2001 National Youth GangSurvey reported that 67% of gang membersidentified by law enforcement were ages 18 or older.

*National Youth Gang Center, www.iir.com/nygc.

NC DJJDP - Center for the Prevention of School Violence


2. Most youth gang members are members for 1 year or less.

True - In areas with emerging gang problems, most youth report being in thegang for 1 year or less.



Perceptions of Youth Gangs 3. Over one-half million gang members have been identified by police in U.S. cities.

True - NYGC researchers estimate thatapproximately 760,000 gang members in 24,000gangs were active in the U.S. in 2004.


* National Youth Gang Center, www.iir.com/nygc.



4. With few exceptions, youth gang problems are an inner-city problem.

False - In the past few decades, there has been adramatic increase in the growth of gang problemsin rural and suburban areas, and small cities.


* National Youth Gang Center, www.iir.com/nygc.



5. Once gangs emerge in small towns and rural counties, they usually remain.

False – Smaller cities and suburban and rural counties tend to report variable gangproblems.




6. Gang members migrate to other communities primarily to establish drug markets.

False – The most common reasons for migration are social considerations, such as familyrelocation, and to be near relatives and friends.




7. Most youth gangs are highly organized.

False – Most street gangs are only loosely structured, with transient leadership, and membership, easily transcended codes of loyalty, and informal roles for membership.




8. Most youth gang members say they were forced to join a gang.

False – The two most common reasons youth join gangs are social reasons and protection.




9. Youth gangs are heavily involved in both selling and operating drug distribution organizations.

False – Most drug distribution systems are managed by adult drug cartels or syndicates, traditional narcotic operatives, and by other adult criminal organizations.




10. FBI definitions of a gang, gang member, and gang crime have been adopted by police departments nationwide.

False – There is no single, accepted nationwide definition of youth gangs. Definitions are varied within and across geographical areas.




11. In areas that have first experienced gang problems in recent years, the largest proportion of gang members is Caucasian.True – The newest gang problem areas (emergence within last 10 years) report having a larger proportion of white gang members.




12. Most former gang members say they experienced serious physical consequences from their gang when they decided to quit.

False – Studies show former gang members, especially marginal and short-term members, left without complication or any serious consequences.




13. Educating youth on the consequences of gang involvement is an effective way to combat gang involvement.

True – Early prevention works.



Gang Resources

National Youth Gang Center (NYGC):

1. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Gangs.http://www.iir.com/nygc/faq.htm

2. National Youth Gang Survey Analyseshttp://www.iir.com/nygc/nygsa


Gangs-National Stat

DJJDP - Center for the Prevention of School Violence

The percentage of students reporting the presence of gangs at school increased from 21 to 24 percent between 2003 and 2005.

Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2006http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/ind_08.asp

District 8 Gang Surveys

Survey Methodology6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in Greene, Lenoir,

and Wayne CountiesAdministered in November 2006786 surveys completedSurvey questions were from the Natl. Youth

Gang Center; Community Guide


Greene County Gang Surveys


• 96 Surveys Completed

• 51 Females (53.1%) and 40 Males (41.7%)

• 5 students did not answer gender question (5.2%)

Grade Level # Students (%)

6th 25 (26%)

8th 25 (26%)

10th 23 (24%)

12th 23 (24%)

Did not answer grade question

0 (0%)



Primary/Biological Caregiver Living Arrangements of Students that Self-Reported Ever Being a Gang Member

Arrangement % Sample % Gang Members

Mother Only 32.3% (31) 25.0% (3)

Mother and Stepfather 8.3% (8) 16.7% (2)

Father Only 3.1% (3) 0% (0)

Father and Stepmother 4.2% (4) 0% (0)

Mother and Father (nuclear) 44.8% (43) 33.3% (4)

Grandparent(s) only 1% (1) 0% (0)

Aunt 2.1% (2) 8.3% (1)

Other Guardians 4.2% (4) 16.7% (2)

Total Students 96 12



Average Grades Earned- Average Grades of Self-Reported Total Sample (n=91) Gang Members (n=10)

Mostly F’s (3.1%) Mostly F’s (10%)

Mostly D’s (4.2%) Mostly D’s (0%)

Mostly C’s (28.1%) Mostly C’s (40%)

Mostly B’s (36.5%) Mostly B’s (20%)

Mostly A’s (22.9%) Mostly A’s (30%)

*5 students (5.2%) did not answer this question *2 self-reported gang members did not answer ques.



Relationship Between Self-Reporting Ever Being a Gang Member and Suspension from School, in the past 12 months

N=12 (who answered this question)

# Suspensions # Students, (%)

Zero 7 (58.3%)

1 or 2 times 1 (8.3%)

More than 2 times 4 (33.3%)


Are there gangs at your school? (students, %)


YES!31.3%

yes21.9%

no14.6%

NO!17.7%

no answer14.6%

Greene County Gang SurveysHow often have gangs been involved in fights, attacks, or violence at your school in the past 6

months? (students, %)


Response # Students, (%)

No Answer 21 (21.9%)

Never 21 (21.9%)

Once or twice a month 19 (19.8%)

Once or twice a week 0 (0%)

Almost every day 3 (3.1%)

Don’t know 32 (33.3%)

Documents

Greene County JCPC Gang Identification and Prevention