Things You Should Know About Gangs

Gang is a word that is often associated with an unofficial criminal organization. They are often seen as a threat to our families and society. These days, gangs can become more violent and sophisticated in their operations. They can be associated with complex problems in the society. It is important for you to see the truth, when it comes to gang. When we hear this word uttered, it often conjures the dark images of fear, dirty money, drugs and bullet ridden bodies. Gangs are not really a new phenomenon. Since the age of Antiquity, there were already gangs of bandits who ‘ambushed travellers and merchants. Today, gangs are increasingly able to evade law enforcement and that’s the reason of their survival.

A well operated gang actually works like a corporation. They grow and expand in a specific target niche or territory. Their final goal is often financial profit, which can be obtained regardless of the methods. They often use ruthless business tactics to gain competitive edges, especially to rival gangs. Gang leaders are like real businesspeople. They know how to implement targeted advertising and establish brand recognition to reach specific target demographics. It is important for the local authority to know on the existing complex social problems that may cause many gangs to flourish. The issue can be overly complex to discuss in one short article. Troubled young people are often seen as potential “employees” and consumers. So, minimizing the growth of gangs can often be performed by ensuring that young people are able to stay out of trouble.

There are many reasons why young people are vulnerable to involvements in gang. Often, gangs provide them with a sense of brotherhood. They find a new family with members who care about them, something that they can’t find in their own home. Youngsters with difficult relationship in their family are more likely to have involvement in gangs. When peer pressure is strong enough, it is even possible for young people from well-functioning families to get recruited into gangs. So, it is important for parents to be aware of common methods used by gangs to recruit new members. Young people should have the resilience to deal with potential problems. Parents should be perceptive enough to know whether their adolescent children are getting involved with gangs. S

Signs may include sudden changes in friends, disrespect of authority, change in appearance, desire for excessive privacy, withdrawal from family activities, extravagant spending, unexplained sources of income, staying out all night, increased uses of gang related hand signs, graffiti, clothing and others. In a more serious case, it is even possible for parents to find weapon and drugs in their children’s rooms. If a family is located inside or near high risk neighbourhood, the involvement with gang could increase. Poverty, social isolation, status as immigrants and substance abuse could also make people more vulnerable. If your family has more than a few risk factors, it is important to increase the resilience of family members to prevent involvement in gangs.