Gang involvement is one of the major issues among the youth. It is worth noting that the youth joins gangs because of various reasons. In the United States, most of the homicide and violent cases are linked to gang groups. The government focuses on preventing the youth involvement in gangs and gang-related activities. Gang involvement has long term and short term adverse impacts. The outcomes affect the youth, families, surrounding communities, and families. Gang involvement is very dynamic, which make it complicated to control. Gang involvement has been influenced by some trends. There are risk factors that are linked to gang’s involvement. The risk factors differ for female and male. Responsible stakeholders have to analyze the risk factors and causes of gang involvement when implementing prevention strategies.
The youth who join gangs has specific risk factors, which influence their membership and participation. In this case, the risk factors are the life experiences and events that are associated with an increase in gang activities. The risk factors are divided into various categories, which include peer group, family, school, community and individual characteristics. The family is one of the crucial socializing agent (Hess et al. 212). This means that the growth and development of a person depend on family values and norms. Family interrelationship and interaction predict gang involvement. Poor parental supervision is the most prominent risk factor. Also, some of the risk factors that are associated with family include low socioeconomic status, low parent education, child maltreatment and pro-violence attitudes. Youth who are living with a family member who is a gang is at higher risk of joining the gang. Siblings who show antisocial behavior are at risk of gang involvement. Notably, gang serves as an asylum for youth who come from troubled homes. Parents and guardians play a central role in the life of children. Therefore, low level of parent involvement is a significant risk factor for gang involvement among the youth.
Individual behavior is also a risk factor. Children who are violent and use drugs are likely to be involved in gang-related activities. It is worth noting that at early adolescent stage life stressors are individual risk factors that can predict gang involvement. Also, aggression and violent victimization are believed to be a causal factor in gang involvement. There are several sociopathic behaviors that are associated with gang bonding, which includes reckless, callous, cunning, manipulative and superficial behavioral displays. Individuals who have such behaviors are at higher risk for gang involvement.
Peer risk factors are strongest for gang involvement. Delinquent peer influence individuals towards joining gangs in the community. Also, the aggressive peer has frater influence of the adolescent on gang-related activities. Rejection by prosocial peers tends to push children into gangs and delinquent groups. Community risk factors predict gang involvement among the adolescent. Some of the components include high drug use, low neighborhood attachment, insecurity, and neighborhood disorganization.
Notably, the risk factors affect male and females in different degree. Peer risks factors tend to drive males into the gangs. Association with delinquent peers is strongest risk factors for gang involvement among the boys. Also, low educational aspiration is risk factors that are prominent among young females. On the same note, poor performance on math examination predicts gang involvement among males. Notably, family environment that is violent are predators for gang involvement among female (Miller et al. 77). Some of the family risk factors that influence female include sexual abuse, physical child abuse, and domestic violence. Early dating is the highest risk factors for gang involvement among young females. Safety concerns in schools leading risk factors to gang involvement among the male and females. Female joining gangs come into existence after the males have established and branded the gang group. Lack of male role models is a risk factor for gang involvement among the males. In a critical analysis, the risk factors apply to both males and females. There is an increase in female gang involvement in the world. This is attributed to increasing in risk factors that are streamlined towards the female.
In the general perspective, gang involvement among the youth is on the rise. Comprehending risk factor for gang involvement creates a platform towards preventive mechanism. There is a need to address risk factors that lead youth to gangs and violence. Preventing the youth from gangs involvement is crucial. All stakeholders should work together in ensuring that the risk factors are reduced.
Works Cited
Hess, Kären M, and John P. Wright. Juvenile Justice. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth, 2012. Print.
Miller, Shari, Leslie D. Leve, and Patricia Kerig. Delinquent Girls: Contexts, Relationships, and Adaptation. New York, NY: Springer, 2012. Print.
