Your friends your choices Class Action Lesson One

1. Street gangs recruit members as early as elementary school. • Gang members typically

2. Street gang members are both boys and girls. • Females are in over

3. Street gangs are a mix of different races and cultures.

4. Street gang members must prove themselves to their gangs. • Initiation – Being

5. Street gang members are typically involved in activities that break the law. •

6. Street gang members accept violence as a method of operation. • • Territorial

7. Street gang members are often arrested for their crimes. • Misdemeanors – up

8. Street gang members are feared and not respected by their peers. • Do

9. Street gang members are followers not leaders. • Is it likely that a

10. Street gang members are breaking the law by committing certain crimes while being

Slides: 14

Download presentation

Your friends, your choices. Class Action Lesson One Halifax County, Virginia

Ten Important Facts About Street Gangs

1. Street gangs recruit members as early as elementary school. • Gang members typically range in age from 12 to 24. • Evidence that a member as young as 8 in Lynchburg.

2. Street gang members are both boys and girls. • Females are in over 1/3 of gangs. • Females are in more active roles.

3. Street gangs are a mix of different races and cultures.

4. Street gang members must prove themselves to their gangs. • Initiation – Being Jumped In – Violence to Strangers • Climbing Up – Putting in Work • Loyalty – Against All Else – Family, School, Church, Friends – “Blood In, Blood Out”

5. Street gang members are typically involved in activities that break the law. • Primary Distributors of Illegal Drugs in US • Dominant Retail Level Distributors of Crack, Cocaine, PCP in Virginia • Control and Expansion of Operations Locations Result in High Levels of Violence • Assault, Burglary, Drive-by Shootings, Extortion, Homicide, Identity Fraud, Money Laundering, Robbery, Witness Intimidation

6. Street gang members accept violence as a method of operation. • • Territorial Hierarchical Respect Loyalty • Equals Violence

7. Street gang members are often arrested for their crimes. • Misdemeanors – up to 12 months in jail • Felonies – Some up to life in prison • Forfeiture of assets used in gang activities

8. Street gang members are feared and not respected by their peers. • Do true friends have to buy your friendship? • Do true friends have to threaten you to get you to do something for them? • Do true friends demand your full attention 24/7/365? • Do true friends want you in jail or injured or worse?

9. Street gang members are followers not leaders. • Is it likely that a gang member will have time to prepare for SOL’s? • Is it likely that a gang member will have time to fill out college applications? • Is it likely that a gang member will have time to devote to sports? • Is it likely that a gang member will make good grades? • Is it likely that a gang member will succeed outside of the gang?

10. Street gang members are breaking the law by committing certain crimes while being in a gang. • Gang Participation = being a member of a street gang and committing certain crimes • Gang Recruitment • Gang Hazing • Gang Threats

Your friends, your choices.