How do you know if your child is in a gang?

As a parent what should you look out for? Here are some signs and behavior associated with gang activity.

Behavior

• has your child seemed distant or detached from the family?
• is there a sudden loss of interest in school, or have they stopped attending school?
• has their school work suddenly started to get worse – for example have they had worse grades or bad reports?
• has the school or college reported worrying changes in behavior?
• has your child dropped out of after school clubs?
• have they started to use new slang words?
• do they suddenly have unexplained money or possessions?
• do they have a new nickname?
• is there a new person in their life who they appear to be influenced or led by?
• do they have Friends who are known or believed to be gang members?
• have they lost touch with old friends and just hang around with one group?
• do they have aggressive or intimidating views towards other young people – even old friends?
• do you think they might be using or dealing drugs?
• are they Getting in trouble with the law?
• do they spend a long time away from home, have they started to stay out late without giving a reason, or are they vague about who they are out with?
Visual signs
• has there been a sudden change in appearance – like dressing in a particular style or color similar to all the other people they hang around with?
• are they showing signs of physical injuries with a poor excuse for how they got them (could be the result of being "jumped in")
• have they started to use graffiti style ‘tags’ (signatures) on possessions, school books, walls or buildings?
• have they started displaying signs of group behavior: ways of talking and acting in line with other members of the group.
• do they use hand signals when talking to their friends?
• do they have tattoos, possibly self-inflicted.

If someone displays one or even several of these signs, it does not necessarily mean that they are in a gang. The Rap Music culture has made the wearing of baggy, over-sized clothing popular among teenagers. Clothing alone should not be a sole basis for determining gang activity. For more information on gangs or for specific information on gang activity in your area, contact your local police department.

Gang Prevention Forum