A new National Institute of Justice report proposes several strategies that schools, law enforcement, public health officials, and other partners can employ to stop kids from joining gangs. The report examines why youth join gangs, explores child development issues, and identifies the consequences and risks associated with joining gangs.
Among its conclusions are that the risks for delinquency and violence increase after a young person joins a gang. Young gang members are also at higher risk for substance abuse, high-risk sexual behavior, dropping out of school, criminal behavior, and numerous other negative consequences. The report says that preventing youth from joining gangs has the potential for enormous cost savings for communities in terms of medical, law enforcement, incarceration and lost productivity costs.
