Who's at Risk of Joining a Gang?

Anyone — male or female, wealthy or low-income, from any ethnic or racial background,from a functional or dysfunctional family may decide to join a gang. Gang involvement can begin as early as elementary school. Experts have identified high-risk characteristics that can contribute to a youth being vulnerable to gang membership. Gang members more often

• are male (although female gangs are becoming more prevalent)
• have other family members or friends involved with gangs
• have seen excessive use of alcohol or other drugs in the home
• live with a single parent or with grandparents
• have poor academic performance
• see poor to non-existent job prospects
• are known for fighting and general aggressiveness in early adolescence, or have chronicdelinquency problems
• experience poor living conditions or poverty
• have experienced social deprivation or isolation
• have needs that have been neglected or are unmet

The presence of one or more of these conditions does not guarantee that a young person will join a gang. Identifying risk factors helps a community understand which youth may be more vulnerable to gang recruitment and enables the community to be more effective in implementing anti-gang programs.