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The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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it provides protection, usually from another gang. For example, if a kid is<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g beaten up by two gangs and he jo<strong>in</strong>s one, he will only be beaten up<br />

by one.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the decision makers, youth are gett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> gangs at younger<br />

ages because the gangs give them the acceptance they want and need. Because the ma<strong>in</strong><br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> gangs seems to be to engage <strong>in</strong> del<strong>in</strong>quency, there are many problems that are<br />

believed to be associated with gangs. One <strong>of</strong> the most important outcomes from the<br />

perceived <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> gang activity is the <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> violence and drug <strong>in</strong>volvement.<br />

(<strong>The</strong> gang situation) has gone from bad to worse. Twelve years ago there<br />

was noth<strong>in</strong>g noticeable, noth<strong>in</strong>g specific, then we had the gangs but no big<br />

problems. <strong>The</strong>n came the drugs and then the shoot<strong>in</strong>gs. We knew it was<br />

com<strong>in</strong>g. Once crack coca<strong>in</strong>e hit the streets <strong>in</strong> California, it moved here real<br />

fast.<br />

We are see<strong>in</strong>g the kids <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> crack coca<strong>in</strong>e and we never saw that<br />

before. We are start<strong>in</strong>g to see a lot more turf battles and shoot<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

stabb<strong>in</strong>gs and stuff. Drive—by shoot<strong>in</strong>gs, that has happened <strong>in</strong> the last few<br />

years. We have a lot more senseless community violence, a lot more<br />

graffiti, a lot more <strong>in</strong>timidation. <strong>The</strong> schools themselves aren’t too bad but<br />

the areas around the schools are pretty bad because the kids who aren’t<br />

go<strong>in</strong>g to school, the gang kids and all their buddies, are hang<strong>in</strong>g around<br />

and look<strong>in</strong>g for trouble and caus<strong>in</strong>g trouble and it isn’t on the school<br />

ground but it is with<strong>in</strong> a block on each side <strong>of</strong> the school and those are<br />

some very real problems.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the majority <strong>of</strong> decision makers, it is better to prevent youth from<br />

participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> gangs than to try and get them out <strong>of</strong> gangs.<br />

Parents need to take a lot <strong>of</strong> control back from their kids and spend time<br />

with their kids. We need to get the family unit back <strong>in</strong>

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