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\ A Parents Guide

INSIDE:

. What is a gang?. Signs a child maybe involved

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. Avaitable resources

Frovided by,

The Central Valley Gang Impact Taskforce

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The Central Valley Gang Impact Taskforce (CVGIT) is amulti-agency collaboration between local, state and federal lawenforcement agencies. The ultimate goal of the taskforce is toeradicate gangs from our community.

Modesto Police DepartmentStanislaus County Sherrif's Office

Ceres Police DepartmentStanislaus County Probation Department

Stanislaus County District Attorney's OfficeCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Gang Awareness: A Parent's Guide< <

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Introduction 4

How Gangs Have Spread 5

What Is a Gang 6

Why Do Our Children Join Gangs 7

Signs Parents Should Look For 8

Signs Of Gang Membership 9

What Parents Can Do 14

Local Resources 15

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In California, gangs have spread from the big cities of LosAngeles and San Jose to the suburbs and rural communitiesin the Central Valley. Because the "gang lifestyle" has beenglamorized in the media (movies, music, television, etc.), ithas drawn people from all social, economic, and racialbackgrounds. Unfortunately, the gang lifestyle is not a trendor phase. It is a dangerous choice of life, which can destroyfamilies and eventually lead to incarceration or death.

Gang members are violent. They attempt to hold a communityhostage by intimidation. They will engage in acts of violence,such as assaults, drive-by shootings, car-jackings, andhome invasions in order to oppress neighborhoods or publicgathering places. If gangs are allowed to exist, they willerode the quality of life in the communities in which theyreside. Because of this threat, community members mustwork together to eliminate the gang infestation in our society.

As a parent, you can help prevent the spread of gangviolence by learning what a gang is, recognizing importantand dangerous signs, and being aware of resourcesavailable within our community. By preventing and deterringyour own children from joining a gang, you are eliminatingthe spread of gangs and insuring your child has a positivefuture.

A high percentage of gangs members inthe United States are between the ages of

14 and 24.

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Gangs have been able to spread for many reasons. One mainreason gangs have been allowed to grow is due to the lackof knowledge parents have about gangs. Parents need tobe aware of the danger signs their children may display. Byrecognizing the signs early, parents are able to intervene andsteer their children back on track. Knowing what to look for iscrucial. If parents know what the symptoms look like, they willbe able to treat the problem.

Denial is another barrier that has allowed gangs to continue.No parent wants to admit that their daughter is a gangmember or acknowledge that their son is engaging in gangactivity. Parents who look away from the problem arecondoning the problem. Parents who are able to acknowledgea problem, once it is discovered, have taken a positive steptowards curing the problem. Parents need to know they arenot alone. There are resources available, which are designedto deter children away from gangs. These programs are noteffective, if parents do not take advantage of them.

Parents must take action at the first sign their child may beinvolvedin gangactivity. The signs mightstart off as appearingminor in nature, such as vandalism, fights at school, poorschool attendance, or delinquent behavior at home. A childmay also begin to regularlywear clothing in red or blue colors.These signs may be early indicatorsof gang involvement.

Although these incidents may seem minor and are oftenoverlooked, it is during this period that prevention andintervention programs have the most impact. Parents shouldtake advantage of this opportunity.

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What Is a Gang?A basic definition of a criminal street gang is:

. A group of three or more persons (Adultsorjuveniles, males or females)

. Have a common name, sign, or symbol: (AirportNortenos,Asian Boyz,Oak Street Posse,etc.)

Engage in criminal activity: (Commitcrimes)

Although traditional street gangs have often segregatedthemselves by ethnicityor race, some gangs are allowingmixed race and mixed gender membership. Gangs willtraditionally identify themselves and their gang with thestreet, neighborhood,or city they live in.

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Criminal Street Gangs are de-fined under the California PenalCode section 186.22 (f)

Gang Awareness: A Parent'sGuide

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Many kids join gangs for a variety of reasons, whichcan be influenced by their schoolmates, neighborhood,or family. A vulnerable child may turn to gangs for theperceived security, "love", and acceptance of his or herpeers. Kids, who feel they lack this attention andsupport at home, will turn to gangs as an alternative.

Other kids join gangs for the excitement, familytradition, or possible peer pressure. They may bebored at home and have several hours a day ofunsupervised free time.

Parents and authority figures can make a positiveimpact on at-risk children if they are able to recognizewarning signs and treat the problem immediately.

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Behavior changes

. Decline in grades

. Change of friends

. Truancy

. Staying out late

. Use of alcohol or other drugs

. Havingmoneyor newitems,whichcannotbeexplained.

. Growing attitude conflicts with parents/teachers

. Abrupt change in behavior (secretive)

. Withdrawing from family

. Abrupt change in music and clothing style

. Tattoos or body markings

Signs of possible gang involvement

. Fighting at school or while out with friends

. The presence of gang graffiti in the bedroom, on

clothing, walls, books, backpacks, etc.

. Wearing clothing of a predominant color

. Practicing or use of hand signs

. Possession of photographs showing gang members

. Presence of gang tattoos

. Admitting gang membership

. Contacts with police

. Associating with known or suspected gang members

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Gang Awareness: A Parent's Guide". "," ",','"".,,' '"".,."", , ,/"

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While street gangs share some common behaviors andpractices, many gangs will have unique characteristicsspecific to their gangs, such as hairstyles, clothing, ortattoos. The following are examples of signs of possiblegang affiliation or membership.

ClothingMany gang members will wear distinct clothing as anonverbal way to identify themselves as being affiliatedwith a gang. Sometimes the clothing attire will be anaccessory, such as shoelaces, belts, or jewelry, whichare often overlooked by the untrained eye. Gangmembers use this unique dress to help them identifytheir friends and rivals.

Gang members will also write, draw, or embroidergraffiti, gang names, initials, signs, and/or symbols ontheir clothing,shoesor jewelry. Inadditiongang memberswill wear clothing predominantlyof a certain color.

Many gang members prefer to dress in "baggy" pantsand oversizedshirts,sweaters, or jackets.Baggy clothing helpsthemconcealweapons,which can be readilyavailable.

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NicknamesManygang memberswill choose,or be given a nickname(moniker)bytheirpeers.Thenicknamemaydrawattentionto aphysicalcharacteristic,personaltrait,orabehavior.It isimportantto knowthathavinga nicknameisnotrequiredbya gangandatthesametimejustbecausesomeonehasanickname,doesnotinitselfmeanthepersonisa gangmember.

Hand SignsGangmemberswill oftenusehandsignsto identifytheirgang.Theywillformlettersornumbersbyusingtheirfingers.Thistypeof communicationis oftenusedas a challengeto rivalgangmembersorasawayto intimidatecitizensorpolice.

Gang Awareness: A Parent's Guide

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GraffitiGangs will use graffiti to identify their presence in aneighborhoodandto claimthat territory. They relyon graffitias a wayto communicatewith fellowor rivalgangmembers.Theywill also use graffitias a form of intimidationtowardscitizens or law enforcement. If graffiti is allowed to bedisplayedin a neighborhood,it isa signtogangmembersthatcitizensin the neighborhoodhaveclosedtheireyesto crime.This messagewill empowergang membersand they willincreasetheircriminalactivityin thearea.

Parentsneedto beawareof graffitiin theirneighborhoodandsurroundingneighborhoods. If graffiti is seen displayed,itmust be immediatelyremoved. Parentscan call the city orcounty graffiti abatement for removal. By keeping ourneighborhoodsclean of graffiti,we are helpingto keep ourneighborhoodfreefromgangs.

The presence of any type of graffiti ina neighborhood may indicate the pres-ence of gang activity. ~

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Tattoos

Gang memberswill use tattoos as a way to expresstheiraffiliationwith a gang and identifythe gang'sgeographicalorigin. Tattoosmaydisplaythegang'sname,theabbreviatedversionof the gangs name,the gang member'snickname,theneighborhoodor citytheyarefrom,or if the individualhasspenttimein prison.

Gang tattoos come in many types and styles, such aspictures, letters, or numbers. Tattoosoften have hiddenmessagesand symbols,which are normallyoverlookedbynon-gangmembers. To gang membersand trained lawenforcement,however,thetattooscontainvaluableinformationaboutthe gangmemberandhisgang.

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PhotographsI VideoRecordingsGang membersoften keepvideos,photographs,and photoalbums, which depict themselvesand their fellow gangmembers. These picturesand photoalbumsoften containgraffitiwritingson them,which identifythe gangor the gangmemberswho are picturedin the photographs. The gangmembersareoftenseenmakinghandsignsor wearinggangclothing. Gang membersuse photographsand videos tomemorializethemomentintime.Theywillkeeptheseitemsasmementoesor trophies.

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Parents should be aware of the potential hazards of

gang involvement and be proactive in their children'slives and activities. The following are a few suggestionsfor concerned parents:

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Increase yourawarenessofyourchildren'sbelongings,clothing,andbedroom.Knowwhereyourchildrenare andwhomthey arewithGet to knowyourchildren'sfriendsand the parentsof yourchildren'sfriends.Talktoyourchildandbecome/remaininvolvedintheirlives.Talkwithyourchild'sschoolteachersandcounselors.Becomefamiliarwith anyschoolprogramsdesignedtodetergang involvement.Encourageandallowyourchildto join afterschoolsportsor schoolsponsoredprograms.Reportgraffitiin yourcommunityto the graffitiabatementdepartment.Becomefamiliarwith gangpreventionprogramssponsoredbyyourlocalpolicedepartmentorprobationdepartment.BEA POSITIVEROLEMODEL

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Parents who suspect their child may be involved in gangactivity should not hesitate to intervene.

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Alcohol Abuse:

Alcoholics Anonymous

Stanislaus County Mental Health

Stanislaus Teen Recovery Center

Drua Abuse:

Center For Human Services

Family Services AgencyCrisis Line

Counselina:

Center for Human Services

Sierra Education Services

Sierra Vista Children's Center

Stanislaus Behavior Health Center

Turning Point Community Program

Couseling Services for Spanish

Tattoo Removal:

Chuck Muncie Youth Foundation

Others:

Youth Court

Modesto Diversion

Ceres Diversion

Graffiti Removal (Modesto)

Graffiti Removal (Stanislaus County)

Police Athletics League (Modesto)

Police Athletics League (Stanislaus Co)

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572-2970

558-7454

577 -3595

526-1440

524-6371

578-0103

526-1440

525-8550

523-4573

558-4700

572-3314

571-6100

(510) 457-9880

550-4950

572-9571

538-5737

342-2259

525-6700

572-9614

529-9121

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Written by:Sergeant Rick P. ArmendarizModesto Police Department600 10th Street

Modesto, Ca. 95350

(209) 572-9500

Provided by:The Central Valley Gang Impact Taskforce

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