Make Sure Your Child Doesn't Need A Gang

Show your child love with lots of hugs and reassurances.  Tell them you love them and you're glad they're your child, and a part of your family.

Help build good self-esteem.  Praise your child's efforts and the things they do well.

Spend time every day talking with and listening to your child.

Supervise your children's activities.  Make sure a reliable adult is present at all functions.

Help them get involved in activities that interest them so they feel they belong.

Talk to their friends and meet their friend's parents.  Make sure the other parents know your rules regarding your child.

Always know where your children are and who they are with.

Put a high value on education and help them do their best in school.  Do everything possible to prevent them from dropping out.

Talk about your values and why gangs are dangerous.

Signs That Your Child Might Be In A Gang

• Changes in their type of friends.

• Using unusual hand signs, handshakes, nicknames, or street language.

• Secretiveness about activities.

• Losing interest in school or family.

• Gang symbols (i.e. crowns; three, five, or six pointed stars; tridents' or pitchforks to name a few) on school books or clothing.

• Cans of spray paint, markers, or paint on their hands that can't be explained.  Spray paint is used to "tag" a gang's territory.

• Tattoos.

• Changes in dress habits, such as wearing the same color combination all the time or refusing to wear certain colors.  Sudden interest in sports clothing when no interest in athletics previously existed.

• All their friends wear the same colors, bandannas, hairstyle, jewelry, tilted hats, or distinctive clothing style, such as one pant leg rolled up.

• Strings of beads (red, blue, black, white, and yellow).  Different configurations represent specific gangs.

• Extra cash or possessions from unknown sources.

• Frequently bruised or injured.

• Carrying guns, knives, or other weapons.

• being arrested or detained by the police.

If you notice these patterns, you can get help.

Wanna-Be's

Children want to "fit-in".  They often want to dress like their peer group, but may not realize that they're imitating the style of gang members.

Hanging around gang members, dressing like them, or doing gang related activities are just a few of the things that can cause the police to put your child on the "documented gang member" list.

Documented gang members receive enhanced penalties when they break the law.

Associate gangs and rival gangs will not know that your child is a "wanna-be."  Your child could get caught up in gang violence, land in jail, or worse.

Learn About Gangs

• There are approximately 40-60 gangs in Broward County.

• Boys and girls as young as 7 years old are recruited to join.

• The average age is 14-24 years old.

• Members come from all walks of life, all cultures, income groups, religions, and races.

• Many gangs no longer consist of a single race or ethnic group.

• The most common reasons given for joining a gang are:

  To belong to a group, peer pressure, for protection, to earn money, for excitement, to be with friends, to have a family, to gain respect, and for self esteem.

• Most teen gang members have been forced to join.

• Children that grow up in violence view violent gang activity as normal behavior.

• Feelings of hopelessness due to unemployment or poverty help glorify the wealthy appearance of gang lifestyle.

• Graffiti glorifies the gang and makes its members as will known as possible.  It marks their turf and challenges rival gangs.  Altering or placing a rival gang's symbol upside down is considered grounds for an altercation that could escalate to a "drive by shooting."

• Gansta rap paints a realistic picture of daily gang activity.  The lyrics glorify violence, abuse of women, and disrespect for authority, especially the police.  Its popularity has helped spread gang culture across all geographic, racial, and economic lines.

The Truth About Gang Life

The rules are stricter in a gang than at home or school. The leader's orders and the gang's rules must be obeyed-no questions asked.

The day you join a gang you must swear a "blood oath", a promise to obey all rules. If you break your promise, the punishment can be death. In fact, the day you join, you will be told to plan your funeral in advance.

Joining a gang increases your chances of being injured or killed. Rival gangs become your instant enemy.

It's possible, if there is gang activity in your area, that your children may become involved. Often, parents don't recognize their children's gang activity until it is too late. Hard-core members are strongly tied to drug use, sexual activity, violence, and crime. It's a difficult cycle to break, but parents can protect their children from a gang's influence.

• 93% of children are not in gangs.

• Develop positive alternatives. Are there after-school and weekend activities for the kids? Can the school offer its facilities? Can parents organize clubs or sports? Can the kids themselves offer ideas?

• Utilize religious congregations, Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA and YWCA, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts.

• Work with police and other agencies. Report suspicious activity. Set up a Neighborhood Watch or citizen patrol.

• Get organized and show gangs that your neighborhood has zero tolerance for their activities.

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