Gang influence

Our society has many problems. A major problem that we have been facing for many years and will continue to face is the threat of gangs in our schools. A gang is defined as a group of criminals or hoodlums who band together for mutual protection and profit (answers.com "gangs"). Most gangs are defined as adolescents who are frequently involved in illegal activities (National School Safety and Security Services [NSSASS], schoolsecurity.org). Gangs are a major problem because they promote violence. Schools are less safe because of the presence of gangs, vandalism increases, and students can't learn because they are too busy trying to stay away from gangs or are trying to join a gang. Some kids want to join while others are trying to stay safe.

A major quality of life issue is the issue of teenagers being influence by others to join gangs. This is a major quality of life issue because schools that have gangs in attendance are a very bad influence to other students who may be considered potential gang members.

List of criminal gangs in Los Angeles, California

Image depicting member of MS13 gang. Work of the F...

Crip handsign.

Another negative effect of youth gang violence in our society leads young children to crime and turns them into criminals spending most of their life time in prisons. A major impact of gang presence in schools is that students are afraid to go to school (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/crime_safe04/indicator_15.asp). A survey done by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2004 shows about four percent of the surveyed students also reported avoiding certain places in school because gang members often hung out at these locations (NCES, http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/crime_safe04/indicator_15.asp).

Another survey done by National Youth Gang in 2000 shows that about 24,500 gangs, and 772,500 gang members were active in the United States in the year 2000 (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention...