NCJ Number
123187
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Fall 1989) Pages: 20-22
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The history of youth gangs and of the efforts to address them a century ago can guide today's efforts in the intervention and prevention of youth gangs, change our perceptions of gangs, and change our response to gang members and the violence they perpetuate.
Abstract
Youth gangs date from at least the medieval period, and gang activities were extensive and often violent in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. Government responses included a military presence, the use of community service volunteers, increased laws and penalties, youth service organizations, and community and school rituals and rites of passage. Current efforts should draw on this experience by recognizing that youths are not little adults and that adults have the responsibility to teach youths how to take responsible action. Thus, communities and schools should seek out and develop partnerships with parents, youth service agencies, and active senior citizens to publicly recognize children's issues and accomplishments and to nurture the development of law-abiding behavior. Approaches some schools are using include making more home calls to families of gang members, offering extra pay to counselors to work in gang intervention, establishing positive participation contracts, teaching gang-avoidance skills, and developing school/community gang prevention consortium.