Signs of Gang Involvement

Parents, educators, and other concerned adults should watch for signs of gang involvement. Changes in a child’s behavior or activities, which may be early warning signs of gang involvement, include

• change in types of friends
• changes in dress habits, such as wearing the same color combination all the time (note: that style changes quickly and just because a child wears a certain type of clothingdoes not mean he or she is in a gang)
• displaying gang symbols on books, clothing, or locker
• wearing tattooscarrying extra cash from unknown sources
• carrying a weapon
• losing interest in school and family
• getting arrested or detained by police
• becoming truant
• using alcohol and other drugs
• talking in gang-style language
• using hand signals to communicate with others.