A group of people who form an alliance for a common purpose and engage in violent or criminal activity.

Defined in Arkansas Penal Code Section 5-74-103- Any group of three (3) or more individuals who commit a continuing series of two (2) or more predicate criminal offenses which are undertaken in concert with each other.

The average age of gang members is from 14 to 21 years of age. Gang members, however, can be as young as 8 years old or as old as into their mid 30's. Recruitment into gangs usually starts in the middle school where the age group is between 10 and 13. Some recruitment has also been seen in elementary and into the early years of high school. Most gangs target youth that are easily talked into doing work for the gang.

Gang membership almost guarantees one a criminal record, not to mention the physical risks and dangers of violent activities. The physical risks and dangers include not only the gang member, but the family members and innocent bystanders as well. Youth that fall prey to gang seduction pay a high price for membership. Initiation rights often involve committing serious criminal, usually violent acts to prove loyalty.

• ACCEPTANCE – Many kids feel that they are not getting enough attention they feel they deserve at home. They start looking for this attention and love in other places and often find what they are looking for in a gang. The gang essentially becomes their family.
• EXCITEMENT – This group of kids love the high of committing crimes and getting away with it. They often do their crimes just to be chased by the police. These individuals are adrenaline junkies and love the thrill of criminal activity.
• PEER PRESSURE – If your kids are hanging around gangs and gang members, you can almost guarantee that they are being pressured to join the gang. It is important to know who your children are associating with.
• PROTECTION – In poor neighborhoods and neighborhoods with high gang activity, kids often have to join a gang just to survive. It is often easier to join the gang than to be victimized on a daily basis.
• TO SOCIALIZE – The best parties in town are gang parties. Easy access to liquor, narcotics, and girls are attractive to potential gang recruits. Young males who have a hard time socializing and talking to girls, find girls often like gang members. 

Most gang members are proud of their gang and freely admit their membership. Many dress in a particular style or color identifying their particular gang. Their personal belongings are frequently covered with graffiti and bear the gang symbols or logos and member's street name. Look for and don't ignore theses warning signs:

• Changes in clothing patterns with a preference towards a particular color, sports, or team logos.
• Use of hand signs and signals – usually as alternative form of communication.
• Tattoos or branding of the body with distinctive signs, logos, or names.
• Withdrawal from family involvement; an unusual desire for privacy.
• Associates with troublemakers and secretive peers.
• Frequently out late, breaks curfew rules or laws.
• Gangster influenced music, videos, books and movies. Imitation of gangster lifestyle.
• Drug and alcohol use.
• Abrupt changes in personality and behavior.
• Prefers use of nickname or street name.
• Graffiti.

One of the first indications that gangs are being formed in your community is the appearance of graffiti. To most people, graffiti represents thoughtless vandalism and childish pranks. To a gang member, graffiti is a marking of territorial boundaries and serves as a warning or challenge to a rival game. It is also the underground newspaper of gangs. It can point out which gangs are fighting each other, immortalize deceased gang members and honor leaders within a gang.

Be a good listener to your child and help them develop their self esteem. Spend quality time with your children.

• Watch for negative influences; meet and greet friends and parents of friends.
• Be a role model, show your children how to deal appropriately with conflicts and problems.
• Discuss the importance of schools and good grades.
• Establish rules and set limits. Be consistent and fair in punishment.
• Volunteer time at child's school.
• Demand accountability for time spent, money and clothes.

• Be aware of what information is pertinent to gang activities.
• Document and report gang related activities to assigned School Resource Officers.
• Develop and enforce a clear, no tolerance policy regarding gangs,  drugs, weapons, and graffiti.
• Always deal with an individual student privately. Dealing with them in front of their peers validates "gang affiliation or membership" which is what they want.
• Look for, document and report warning signs.

• Gang symbols or graffiti on student's personal   belongings, notebooks, homework, or on lockers.
• Changes in personality and academic performance.
• Defiance, fights and disturbances between youth.
• Clustering of youths in "sets", "packs", or "clicks."
• Possession of weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or large sums of money.
• Students repeatedly involved in "protecting" other students.
• Increase in student harassment complaints, threats, or extortion.
• Poor attendance and/or excessive tardiness.
• Rumor of gang activities, open admission of a gang affiliation or intention to join.

• Establish quality community relationships with local police.
• Remove graffiti immediately.
• Repair all street lights and install new ones where possible.
• Establish community partnerships with the police, clergy, social groups, and the business community.
• Ensure adequate security at public events where youths gather.
• Develop and maintain crime prevention programs; neighborhood watch, anti-robbery, anti-domestic violence and abuse programs.
• In partnerships with local businesses, develop programs to increase employment and job-skills.
• Develop positive alternatives for children in your neighborhood (sports / mentor programs).
• Report all crime and gang activity.

Vision Latino, inc.
Hector Alcantar
(479) 283-0694

Transforming Force
Jaime Torres
(479) 544-3314
elserious@yahoo.com

Springdale Police Department
Crime Suppression Unit
Sergeant Shane Pegram
(479) 756-8200
csu@springdaleark.org

Report Graffiti to:

Springdale Nuisance Abatement Partnership
Sergeant Billy Turnbough
(479) 750-8139
bturnbough@springdaleark.org