Signs of Gang Involvement
Parents, educators, and other concerned adults should watch for signs of gang involvement. Changes in a child s behavior or activities, which may be early warning signs of gang involvement, include • change in types of friends • changes in dress habits, such as wearing the same color combination all the time (note: that style changes quickly and just because a child wears a certain type of clothingdoes not mean he or she is in a gang) • displaying gang symbols on books, clothing, or locker • wearing tattooscarrying extra cash from unknown sources • carrying a weapon • losing interest in school and family • getting arrested or detained by police • becoming truant • using alcohol and other drugs • talking in gang-style language • using hand signals to communicate with others.
