Gangs run rampant in California, and while their numbers are still growing in other states—along with the violence and drugs that usually accompany these groups—California is still known to be rife with gang activity. Los Angeles is most famous for gangs and warfare, notably between local rivals like the Bloods and the Crips. These gangs thrive on crime, and when it comes to inducting members, they thrive on the weaknesses and vulnerability of others.
Gangs would have a hard time existing at all if they were not able to fund their coffers through crime, and the entire hierarchy of their system and keeping everyone in line is built on abuse, whether of community members, other gang members in the area, or those within their own inner circles. Unfortunately, has gangster motif and style has become almost even more ‘cool’ in society, with even more conservative kids trying to emulate gang symbols and handshakes, their style of clothing, speech patterns, and worse: their unlawful activity, much of which may be drug-related.
Younger kids are drawn into these groups usually because they have a difficult home life to begin with. This makes an enormously sad statement about how horrendous the lives of some kids are, as they find a better life within a gang than in their own home. And at a young age, they may not realize that there is anything better out there, as their current viewpoint may only be that of a family atmosphere over-powered by verbal abuse and physical views. In some cases, kids from loving homes go astray also, drawn into the culture of gangs as they have been deceptively glamorized through movies and TV.
Although gang members may often have dropped out of school and do not have an extensive education, they can be surprisingly adept at sucking people in and manipulating them and continuing to control them for years. It may not be difficult for them to do however because younger children are also dying to get into games. If you suspect your child has been involved in gang activity, do your best to intervene immediately and get them involved in healthy activities—away from drugs and crime—as soon as possible.
If your child has been charged with gang-related or violent crimes, you will need an extremely skilled attorney to help you ensure their future is not ruined by association with hardened criminals. Call Dolan Law Offices as soon as possible. We have defended hundreds of adults and juveniles in these matters, with successful results—and it is very important to try and avoid something like a gang crime conviction that would be on your child’s record permanently, leading to further escalation if there were another charge in the future. Call us at (760) 775-3739 or contact us online as soon as possible.