Is Your Teenager Involved in a Street Gang?

Teen gangs are a scary reality almost everywhere in the United States today. City governments are having a difficult time dealing with the increasing problem. Gang-related teen homicides are on the rise. National Gang Trends Survey from 2002 indicates that teens involved in gangs are 60 times more likely to be killed than any other segment of the United States population.

Do you think that you don't have to worry about teen gangs in your neighborhood? Think again. 2002 statistics by National Gang Trends Survey report that there are over 24,000 various street gangs just in the United States.

There are many signs to be aware of that may indicate that your child is in a gang. You should learn symptoms to look for that may point to the possibility that your child has become involved with a gang. I attended a seminar put together by the organization "Operation No Gangs" recently. The seminar showed ways to help determine if a child is possibly involved in a teen gang. These are the tips that I learned.

If your child hangs out with kids that wear gang clothing or use gang hand signs, take it very seriously. Yes, it is possible that your child and his friends are simply intrigued with gangs. Even so, this is still a danger sign. Your child should not be impressed with gangs and the gang culture. More importantly, this could indicate that your teenager has already become caught up in a teen gang.

If your teen's behavior becomes anti-social and he starts suddenly rebelling against authority figures, this is another potential danger sign of associating with a gang. Your child could just be going through a typical teen phase, but it could point to something more serious.

Another common change in a teenager that starts hanging around a teen gang is a drop in grades. Also, if your teenager loses interest and drops out of extracurricular activities, he could be connected with a gang. If your child becomes secretive about his whereabouts and friends, you should be concerned.

If your teenager suddenly has a new nickname, this could be a sign of gang association.