Protective Factors for Youth Gang Involvement
STRATEGIES FOR GANG INTERVENTIONS
· First, prioritize prevention programs to provide youth and offenders returning to the community with opportunities that help them resist gang involvement.
· Second, ensure robust enforcement policies when gang-related violence does occur.
Strategies which increase “Protective Factors” and therefore decrease students' feelings of powerlessness and/or low self-esteem, raises the probability that gangs will be less able to attract new members and retain old members.
Protective factors identified for reducing youth gang involvement are highlighted in the table below:
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PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR YOUTH GANG INVOLVEMENT |
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COMMUNITY |
FAMILY |
SCHOOL |
INDIVIDUAL / PEER |
|
Opportunities for community involvement |
Family attachment |
Opportunities for school involvement |
Religiosity |
|
Rewards for community involvement |
Opportunities for family involvement |
Rewards for school involvement |
Belief in the moral order |
|
Feelings of safety |
Rewards for family involvement |
Healthy and caring relationship with at least one staff member |
Social skills |
|
Community’s opposition to gangs |
Positive role model |
Academic achievement |
Peer attachment |