A gang is an ongoing loosely organized association of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, which has a common name, signs, symbols or colors, whose members engage, either individually, or collectively, in violent or other forms of illegal behavior.

Street Gangs in Decatur

The Decatur Police Department has identified more than 20 active gangs in Decatur, with membership totaling more than 950 people. The age range varies, but is generally between 14 and 22 years. School District officials around the nation have reported gang participation as young as grades 3 through 6. Nationwide, gang members only represent about 2% of the youth in schools, however, many members are not in school and membership is increasing.

What Is Territory?

Most gangs in Decatur will claim an area as it's "Turf" or "Territory" and mark it with their graffiti. The turf concept in Decatur is different than in Los Angeles and Chicago, where street gangs claim a defined neighborhood. Decatur gangs are mobile and seem to use schools as their focal point. As a member moves, or switches schools he simply starts the gang in a new area. Gang activity has been detected in virtually every sector of the city, and it's suburbs.

Gang Activity

Gang members like to frequent the same places as most of us...malls, amusement parks, special events. They're showing up everywhere. When a gang attends a public event, the potential for violence and criminal activity is great. The resulting violence often claims innocent victims, which is why everyone is impacted by gang activity. Parents need to become aware of gang members, their characteristics and activities, to protect their children and to enable parents to intervene if gang involvement is detected.

Who Joins?

Many gang members have a history of troubled family lives. Many have been abused and have no background to give them an understanding of the value of human life.. Young people of all socio-economic levels and ethnic backgrounds are members of gangs. In gangs they find a form of support, attention, and the common ground they may not have with their families. They are young people looking for "respect," protection and adventure, who are willing to risk all by joining a gang in the mistaken belief that a gang will provide these things to them.

Warning Signs

• Change in hairstyle/dress
• New friends with the same hairstyle/dress, bandannas and caps
• Secretive behavior about friends and activities
• Use and recognition of hand signs by youth and friends
• New interest in graffiti symbols, and displaying symbols in bedroom
• Change in routine when with new friends giving no explanation
• Change in places frequented
• Going out with unusually large groups of friends
• Suspected drug use indicated by things such as mood changes and smell of inhalants on breath
• Increase of possessions such as cloths, hats, money
• Change in attitude about school and hobbies
• New discipline problems
• Phone threats to family directed against child
• A new fear of the police
• A new found sense of bravery

Prevention and Intervention

• Insist on meeting teen's friends and their parents
• Know where your child is going, with who, how he's traveling, and when to expect him home
• Set rules and enforce them. The same teens who resist their parents' wishes will conform to a gang's wishes-because a gang will tolerate nothing else
• Ask school personnel to make you aware of gang-type behavior
• Encourage legitimate out of school interests to make youth feel he is part of a group

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