Does gang activity affect only the inner city?
Gang activity does not have any territorial or ethnic boundaries. Criminal activity that accompanies some of the gangs can range from a territory as small as a single neighborhood block, to a highly mobile criminal operation that reaches to the coastal states. Gangs may become criminally competitive with each other, and have a need to expand into new territories including suburban areas. Who are the leaders of the gangs? Most gangs are small and are formed in neighborhoods by local youth. Often there is no formally recognized leadership in gangs. The oldest, or strongest, youth is usually the leader. Some neighborhood gangs align with one another to become larger and more powerful, forcing other neighborhood gangs to join them or fight them. Often a youth will gain higher status in a gang by committing violent acts. How do gangs operate? Most gangs operate in a similar manner. Most gangs identify with a name, color and hand sign, and gang members are given nicknames. Law enforcement of
