Street Gangs

Second Chance
745 North Sanborn
Salinas, CA 93906

(831) 758-4820

info@scys.org

Gangs - What They Are,
And What You Can Do To Stop Them!

Street gangs have rapidly migrated to numerous rural and suburban communities throughout the United States. Youth gang trends change on an almost daily basis.

What is a Gang?

A gang can be defined as a group of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose and engage in violent, unlawful, or criminal activity. Gangs can be found across all races and socio-economic levels, and their activity often affects innocent people. Gangs in Monterey County are primarily Hispanic and African American, however, Asian, Pacific Islander and Caucasian gangs are becoming more active.

A personal story … Sandra is a client who has overcome adversity to become a mature young woman. She experienced aggression toward peers, she was angry, had no social skills and low self-esteem. Six months ago she was engaging in a negative lifestyle. She had been attracted to gangs and drugs; she was also failing academically.

Gang Names & Nick Names

Many gangs adopt names that have significance when related to their neighborhoods, streets, parks, hills, valleys or housing projects, such as; La Posada Trece, East Las Casitas, Salinas East Market, Cortez St., Salinas Acosta Plaza, Madeira Barrio Locos. Many gang members adopt nicknames if they do not already have one when recruited. The name fits the individual's physical or psychological characteristics, such as; Lefty, Sniper, Bullet, Trigger, Sharky, or Gato.

Leadership

Leadership roles in street gangs are usually not formally recognized positions. A member who demonstrates or asserts dominant control at a particular time assumes leadership roles. In smaller gangs, it is more likely that a single individual will become a recognized leader.

Why Do Young People Join Gangs?

	There are a variety of reasons including the "rush" of criminal activity.
	Peer pressure.
	Attention, positive attention from gangs and lack of attention at home
	Financial benefit (e.g., from selling drugs or stolen property).
	Family tradition.
	Young people have little or no understanding of the consequences of gang activity.
	In too many cases, young people are not actively discouraged from gang activity by their parents.
	Many times parents deny that their children are engaged in gang activity and assume it's always someone else's child.

Effects of Gang Involvement

Gang membership takes a terrible toll on the lives of all that come in contact with its members, though a temporary phase for some youth gang involvement will shape an individual's future.

Parents and relatives of gang members live in constant fear; they fear for their own safety and other non-gang family members as well as for the survival of their gang member son or daughter. Non-gang friends of a gang member are cast aside and the gang becomes their only circle of friends.

Formal education is discarded because it differs from the gang's objectives.

Gang members not killed or seriously injured often develop patterns of alcohol and drug abuse. Extensive police records limit employment opportunities.

Gang Activity: What Do Gangs Do?

Many community activities unknowingly involve gangs and their presence increases the potential for violence and criminal activity. Gang members as well as non-gang members attend parties, weddings, Quinceñeras (traditional Mexican celebration for young ladies coming of age), amusement parks, sporting events, and other social functions.

Violence does not discriminate and can affect everyone and often impacts innocent bystanders. The physical harm gang violence inflicts is usually headline maker, but gangs more commonly target local property and businesses which often suffer from loss of customers and employees as a direct result of gang violence. Vandalism, in the form of graffiti and wanton destruction of public and private property, is often done to further a gang's reputation. Residents in a gang area who are unable to move away live in constant fear.