The concept of justice and the protection from the curtailment of the rights of the parties involved in a crime or wrongdoing called for the existence of laws. Laws are created to protect the rights and the welfare of all the parties concerned. Without laws, there will be no boundaries set by which we are to base our judgment on guilt and innocence. Further, laws are essential in ensuring that justice will be served at all times, and at all costs.

In the case of teen involvement in gangs, certain laws and provisions were drafted to assist law enforcers, lawyers, and the other concerned members of the community. This is an effort to combat the prevailing trends of teen gang involvement.

In California, certain laws were aimed at addressing problems that involve teen gangs. Hopefully, these laws will be adapted in other states as well.

STREET CRIME

Penalties for active participation in a criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in criminal activity; adults who use violent coercion to induce a minor to participate in criminal street gangs; providing firearms to gang members. 

GRAFFITI

Penalties for active possession, sales, or purchase by a minor of an aerosol container of paint for graffiti purposes; parental liability for fines relating to graffiti convictions. 

DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS

For murder committed in a drive-by shooting, and murder committed in the perpetration of carjacking, or for shooting at an occupied vehicle.

PENALTY ENHANCEMENTS

For conviction of a felony committed to promote or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members; felonies committed on or near a school.

Has your teen had a sudden change in the type of friends that he or she hangs out with? Has he or she been sporting gang symbols on his or her body? Or on hos or her personal belongings such as bags, books, or clothing? Has he or she been losing interest in school and family? Has he or she been talking in gang-style language, using hand signals to communicate with others? If you’ve noticed your teen exhibiting these warning signs, then beware. Your teen just might be headed for trouble.

Teens give out various reasons for getting involved in gangs. Some would say that they are merely seeking prestige, protection, or a chance to make money, however, some would claim that they are forced to join by their peers, rationalizing that they cannot refuse. Otherwise, they would be treated as outcasts. On a brighter side, though, recent studies that tracked teen gang members yielded results proving that gang membership for teens seldom last. In most cases, teens leave their gangs after a year or so, as their drive to become members of gangs are only a “phase.”

In spite of this, parents and guardians are still advised to look after their teens because although teens’ involvement in gangs will eventually come to pass, life-long consequences of ganmg involvement are not unheard of. Some of these are the exposure to violence, sexual promiscuity, and the use of prohibited drugs.

Teen gangs are generally bad news. They pose a valid threat to the community, and paves the way for its members’ interaction with crime, violence, premarital sex, alcohol, and drugs, among others. It is therefore important for parents, teachers, and guardians to equip themselves with some basic knowledge about gangs, so that they would have a concrete of what they and the teens thay try to influence to lead straight lives, are up against.

Historically, youth have been drawn to gangs because they increase a sense of self-worth and acceptance in individuals and hold out promises of higher status and personal protection. Gang affiliation can provide the status and peer acceptance important in adolescent development that is otherwise unavailable to at-risk youth.

Like other groups and organizations, gangs are also different from one another; they are all unique. However, there are what we call some common characteristics that gangs share with one another. These characteristics are as follows:

Gangs are developed under the thin lines that border race and ethnicity, they usually claim ownership over a territory. Teen gangs, more often than not, belong to a larger organization which takes control of them and their activities. Also, gangs have symbols and insignias that they display on the bodies and physical belongings of their members. They also display these insignias on the territories they claim.. This is often through the means of vandalism.