As we learned in the violence prevention staff training:

Although Job Corps is safer than the general population, the presence of gangs can create an unsafe environment.  Gangs are actually responsible for most of the crime committed by young people nationwide.  Seven percent of youth, mostly gang members, are responsible for 70 percent of juvenile crimes (The National Center for Victims of Crime).

Your center should be proactive in stopping gang activity.  The following activities may help prevent gang activity:

• Forbid wearing of gang paraphernalia
• Provide support for victims of gang violence and intimidation
• Assimilate gang-oriented students into the mainstream
• Remove graffiti immediately. This discourages graffiti and keeps its message, often a threat to another gang, from getting through
• Provide sports, drama, and recreational activities as alternatives to gang activity

Recognizing Gang Signs

• Are there gangs on your center? Take the self assessment.
• Know the Signs: Gang Activity (MS PowerPoint, click here to download MS PowerPoint Viewer). Learn how to recognize gang signs on center. Large file, may take several minutes to download.
  Ron Holvey, Principal Investigator (Ret.), Special Investigations Division New Jersey Department of Corrections
  National Health & Wellness Conference June 2007
• Gang Hand Signs website from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office

Web Resources

• DOJs National Institute of Justice—The following materials provide background, resources, and response strategies:
  • Female Gangs: A Focus on Research
  • Modern Day Youth Gangs
  • Responding to Gangs, Evaluation and Research
  • Youth Gang Programs and Strategies
• National Youth Gang Center—Provides information, resources, and practical tools toward the development and implementation of effective gang prevention and intervention. They also provide the Strategic Planning Tool that can be used by any community.