On completion of this chapter, students should be able to do the following:

1. Recognize the relationships among gangs, violence, and drugs

2. Understand the role of firearms in youth violence

3. Understand the relationship between delinquency and gang membership

4. Discuss the history and current status of gangs in the United States

5. Assess the various theories of gang development and membership

6. Discuss the characteristics of gang members in terms of age, race/ethnicity, gender, monikers, jargon, and graffiti

7. Identify characteristics of female juvenile gang offenders.

8. Discuss a variety of public and private responses to gang activities

9. Assess various alternatives to incarceration for violent juveniles