On top of that, if the hypothesis that school violence and gangs are becoming a dangerous threat to kids, teachers, and society as a whole proves true; some ideas and suggestions on how us, as agents, in an able bodied and healthy minded society can stop school violence and youth gangs. This study is going to be limited strictly to gangs in the United States and in Canada. It will only focus on youths, and all research information will not be older than ten years. .
The first thing to consider is why people become part of a gang? On the surface peer pressure and greed cause gangs, but when focusing on the issue in more depth, there are more motives behind the existence of gangs. Many teens in gangs will pressure peers into becoming part of a gang by making it all sound glamorous. For instance, in lower income families with many children, or upper-middle class families where parents are always working, the children often feel deprived of love. The parents of such families feel as though putting food on the table is providing enough love for their children. However, there are consequences to this lack of child understanding. Children of these families may often join a gang as a result of boredom and them feeling as if they will now belong to something. As time goes on, a form of love or kinship develops between the gang members and the child. It is then that the bond between the kid and the gang is completed as the gang has effectively taken the place of the family. This .
has all been identified by Lonnie Jackson, an author for the American Correctional Association, who found that reasons why youths become gang members are: lack of positive role models, low self esteem, physical safety/security, peer relations sense of identity, increased status, opportunities for excitement, and making fast money, usually by selling drugs. (1999:63).
In slums such as the Bronx or the very worst case, Compton, children will no doubt be beaten and robbed if they do not join a gang.
