Thesis
One way or another, nearly every citizen in California is affected by organized crime, street gangs, and/or criminal extremists. We suffer the fear perpetuated by those criminals and we pay enormous costs for their illegal activities. Most of all, too many Californians are directly victimized by their terror.
Introduction
Gangs have spread from major urban areas in California to the suburbs, and even to our rural communities. Today, the gang life style draws young people from all walks of life, socio-economic backgrounds and races and ethnic groups. Gangs are a problem not only for law enforcement but also for the community. Drive-by shootings, carjacking, home invasions and the loss of innocent life have become too frequent throughout California, destroying lives and ripping apart the fabric of communities. As a parent, educator, member of law enforcement, youth or concerned community member, you can help prevent further gang violence by learning what a gang is, what the signs of gang involvement and gang activity are and what you can do to stem future gang violence (Jones, 42-52).
No one is immune from the impact that gangs can have on a community. Gang violence is widespread, dangerous and deadly in many California communities.
Gangs are not a big-city or an inner-city problem, any more than they are a problem of a particular race or culture. Gangs cross all racial, ethnic, socio-economic and geographic boundaries.
Gangs are not gender specific. They exist in urban, suburban and rural communities. While many who join gangs are unmarried, unemployed and school dropouts, today’s gang members can also be parents, students, employed and educated. In fact, some gang members are honor students in high school, college students and even active members of the U.S. military (Lane, 44).
African-American
African-American gangs first appeared in southern California in the 1920’s........
