Possible Signs of Gang Involvement
It's not just a police problem; it's a community problem.
Changes in behavior and dress can be a normal part of adolescence or an indication of inappropriate identification and association. Know the difference by being an involved parent.
The following can be signs of possible gang involvement:
Physical Signs:
- Peer-conforming dress
- Extreme hair styles
- Tattoos
- Use or overuse of make-up
Behavioral Signs:
-
Poor school and/or work attendance
- No participation in family activities or withdrawal
- Use of slang vocabulary
- Associating with undesirable people
- Staying out later than usual
- Desiring too much privacy
- Starting to drink or use drugs
- Receiving money or articles without parental permission or awareness
- Unusual moods or patterns of behavior
Non-Verbal Communication Signs:
- Seemingly meaningless or highly stylized graffiti
- Graffiti writing on notebooks, books, or papers
- Using hand signals
Parental, neighborhood, and law enforcement involvement is the only way gang activity will be curbed.
Remember, this is your school community--not the gangs'!