With gang related violence continuing to make headlines, new laws and harsher penalties are being enacted to counter this activity. What can you do to help keep your children and neighbors safe against this potential violence, before it’s too late? Would you be able to recognize if these things were happening in your community?
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) says there many reasons youths can be lead into gang life—from peer pressure, to family conditions, or a community filled with gang activity. Any one of these factors, or a combination of them could lead a teen down the wrong path. In order to be able to make a difference, it’s important to be able to identify the signs and help kids and teens to understand that there are real positive alternatives to the dead-end lifestyle of a gang.
According to the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the best defense against gangs begins in the home. Here are a few tips to follow that as a parent can get you more involved:
- Parents should learn to identify symbols, tattoos, colors or other items that gangs in their community might use. Be aware if they appear on your kids clothing.
- Make sure that your home is not being used to hide weapons or drugs.
- Direct kids toward constructive activities and meet your kids’ friends.
- Some graffiti may indicate gang activity. Remove any graffiti from your property as soon as possible, and as often as possible. Leaving it up gives the impression the community is giving in to the gangs.
You shouldn’t take unnecessary risks with gangs, but don’t be intimidated either. Getting together with your neighbors to team up against gangs and working closely with law enforcement in your community helps to send a strong message against gangs in your area. Contact your local law enforcement agency to find out what they are doing against gangs and how you can help. Check out the NCPC site for some more resources for keeping kids in your community safe from violence. And check out our post on ways that you can get kids involved in crime prevention as well.
18 Comments on "Help Steer Kids Away From Gangs In Your Community"
Kathy
I think you did a great job what you had said is totally true and i couldnt stand the thought if my children where ever to join a gang.
yelim
dont let any children be a gangster group!!!!!!!!!!!!
josh
these kid dont even know where all this gang banging started and they are just dying out their on the streets not knowing anything whats so ever.i bet you if you go ask one of them all they would say is “we have benn in war with this gang for so long”. if you ask them why they would say “i cant tell you or something like that.
Vincent Rodrigues
Were can parents go to see and learn about all the diffrent types of gang symbols, tatttoes.
estherf
you are right that is the wrost thing a child can join i would n’t my kid to at all.
Harvey Horrocks
Hi John I was doing street outreach in New York (Hunts Point) and I lost A client, She was murdered and left on Long Island. I was wondering if you ever did a show on a case like that.
I am on the Doard at The Paul and Lisa Program Inc, In Essex Ct.
Harvey
Cora
We have been hit by gangs in our area here in quiet old Edmonton, AB. We went trough a home invasion and were terrorized because my step-son “inadvertently” wearing a gang colored bandanna.
The police haven not been much help and victims services is unable to be involved as it is gang related. The irony of that is my mom works for the VSU. My husband and I are involved in community revitalization, ironically on the Safe Streets Committee.
So if you think that tagging and graffiti is a nuisance., you would be wrong. My husband and I are the last people that would have a gang affiliation, yet we have had to find out way more than we ever wanted to know.
Please for the safety of you communities and families, get involved. You never know when gang activity is going to hit your family.
Cora
laura
hey john thanks for keeping me informed because you have saved so many teens am one of them so thanks john i will love to meet you one day and i hope that day is soon ok because i will love to meet you and your worderful wife ok so again john keep up the great work you have done for us for more than 20 years because with out you kids,teens,evan adults. will have not been here because of you yhanks again john. john thans bye i love you all at the center to bye.
love,laura
Jimboni
I remember one time I was in a gang, it was’nt cool I just totally disbanned that from my life, now I’m better and help younger kids get off the streets…Jimboni
yasmin
Being in a gang aint nothing good for these young people out in the community because they end up killing their own families. What we need to do is talk to the youung people and tell them they are just doing harm to their selves. We need to help the young people so we can see a difference..
Melissa
Gang members kill there own Family and Friends.
Being in a gang members it is not so cool!
Renee Andrews
Many kids seek out gangs because they think that they are getting protection and love,,,,but what they do not know is that it comes with a price. Parents and kids just should get to know each by talking, learning one another’s interest, spending quality time, and laughing.
AL CASTRO, PRESIDENT OF NYC REGIONAL POLICE
PROTECTION FOR OUR KIDS
FROM GANG MEMBERS
raydean
I think that its hard to keep kids away from gangs but I think as long as you talk to your kids and let them know what there about and what they do to people.kids will hear you & learn something
Ex chicago latin king
Thank you John for all the support to the kids. I also want to comment on these people on here claiming someone needs to help kids! Whats wrong with you people saying someone needs to do something! take a stand and do something yyourself, donate time, stand outside and show a presence, donate time to boys and girls clubs, get involved with your city council, maybe take in a meeting or two, dont wait for someone else to help you with your problem stand up and start helping yourselves.
Waylon fan
Thanks for Sharing This Important Info, I have Grand Children, they R into Skateboarding an Sports, an most all School activities, I wish The PARENTS would Always Ask there Children, Who They R Gonna B With, The Phone # they CAN Be Reached At, What Time They Will Be Home, Not Later than 10:00 i tell them, Parents NEED TO TEACH Their Children The Right Direction’s, Let Them Know The R Loved an Cared About Always! Kid’s In Gangs ONLY HAVE 2 CHOICES HERE, PRISON OR DEATH! IT IS ALL A NO WHERE ROAD!!! Parents Always Be There For U’r Children,Let Them Know U R There Always For Them, Before U Know It, They Will Be Adults an UR TEACHINGS Will Be How They Will Make It A Better Life For Them Selves. After All If The Parents DON’T Care, they Think Y Should They???
melody, Snohomish, wa
One important thing is for parents to know where there kids are at all times. Just don’t let them spend the night and anybodies house. If you are unsure about the parents make a trip to the house to check up on your child. When they go to activities outside of school, and school activities go along, so you can see who is hanging around your kids. The children of this nation are not gettng enough love and support at home. We need to put a stop to gang violence, before it is to late. Thank you John for having this on the web, it would be good if you had a whole show on this. Thank you again. melody
lizzie givens
i think gang violence sould be stop i am 55 when i was a kid we was never was in a gang we did not think of things like that god help our kids to day think you
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