About Gangs

Many communities have serious problems with gangs. There are many kinds of gangs, but whichever kind your community is dealing with, gangs spell trouble, they cause fear, destroy property, and threaten or hurt peaceable residents and drive out business.

Parents can do much to prevent gang problems that might already be in place:

·          Learn about gangs and signs of gang activity

·          Sharpen your skills as a parent and use them

·          Join with others to keep your neighborhood gang free

Young people (as young as nine or ten) join gangs for reasons that make sense to them, such as:

·          To belong to a group

·          For excitement

·          For protection

·          For money and

·          To be with friends

Gangs leave signs of their presence:

·          Specific colors or emblems

·          Special hand signals

·          Gang symbols or graffiti on walls, book or clothing

·          Carrying weapons

·          Wearing certain kinds of colors or clothing in very specific ways

·          Possessing unexplained, relatively large sums of money

There are four things you can do to help keep gangs out.

1^st            Develop positive alternatives. Activities your children can enjoy after school and on the weekend.

2^nd        Talk with other parents. For one thing, you’ll find out what everyone else’s parent really said.

3^rd        Work with the sheriff’s and other agencies. Report suspicious activity; set up a neighborhood watch or community patrol; and let your law enforcement agencies know about your gang graffiti.

4^th        Get organized against the gang organization. Use your neighborhood association. Try these kinds of people in addition to the local law enforcement: priest or minister, family counselor, school counselor or principal, athletic coach, boys & girls club, YMCA, youth serving agencies and community centers – just to name a few.

Article written by Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Cunningham, Cypresswood Substation, and used with his permission.