In the United States, gang activity is a major issue in many communities. Gangs such as the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings and MS-13 inhabit cities all across the country. Usually using graffiti to “tag” their turf, these gangs use violence, drug distribution, prostitution and various forms of smuggling and trafficking to intimidate citizens and expand their criminal organizations daily. Members usually wear specific clothing, colors and even tattoos to represent their affiliation with their specific gang. 86% of cities in the United States with a population of 100 thousand or more have a history of reported gang activity. Cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Camden and Oklahoma City are among the most gang infested cities in the country. In these cities and countless others, cases of assault, robbery, burglary, weapons and drug trafficking happen every day.
…show more content…
Of those active gangs, the Bloods and Crips are the biggest, at twenty five and nineteen percent of all known active gang identification. A gang is defined as a group of individuals that associate closely and exclusively for social reasons such as engaging in delinquent behavior. They are usually organized by things such as ethnicity, race, territory or social status. Around 47% of gang members are Hispanic, 31% are African American, 13% Caucasian, 7% Asian, with the remaining 2% made up of other race demographics. Gangs consist of both male and female members, with females making up an average of 8% of the members. The age of gang members can range from as young as 8 to as old as 80 years of age, with the average age of members being between the ages of 14 to 21. Around 40% of gang members are under the age of 18, and 90% of juvenile males that are in correctional facilities have some type of gang
Of those active gangs, the Bloods and Crips are the biggest, at twenty five and nineteen percent of all known active gang identification. A gang is defined as a group of individuals that associate closely and exclusively for social reasons such as engaging in delinquent behavior. They are usually organized by things such as ethnicity, race, territory or social status. Around 47% of gang members are Hispanic, 31% are African American, 13% Caucasian, 7% Asian, with the remaining 2% made up of other race demographics. Gangs consist of both male and female members, with females making up an average of 8% of the members. The age of gang members can range from as young as 8 to as old as 80 years of age, with the average age of members being between the ages of 14 to 21. Around 40% of gang members are under the age of 18, and 90% of juvenile males that are in correctional facilities have some type of gang