Statistics, Statistics, Statistics

• Larger cities (those with a population greater than 50,000) Suburban counties Smaller cities (those with a population of between 2,500 people and 49,999 people).
• Gang problems were experienced more in areas that were bigger than smaller areas. Rural counties having less than half the reports of gang problems as experienced in suburban counties, and a bit more than a third of the gang problems reported in Larger cities.
• By 2002, teen gang problems were back on the rise, particularly in the larger areas, and the most recent figures, from 2006.
• 1999-2001 to 2006, Rural counties saw an increase of 1.5% to 14.9%. Smaller cities reported an increase of 6.7% to 32.6%. Suburban counties, though, had an increase of 10.2% for a total of 51%. And Larger cities rose 8.8% to 86.4%.
• Cities having populations of over 100,000 people, by contrast, tended to have at least one gang-related homicide.
• In 2006, areas that reported an increase of gang-related crime found that it occurred in these areas, and in this order of frequency:
• aggravated assault
-drug sales -robbery -larceny/theft -burglary -auto theft
•  The factors that were indicated as most important in increasing the level of gang-related violence were, in order of reporting:

-conflicts between gangs
-factors related to drugs
-migration of gang members within the United States rise of newly formed gangs.
-the return to the area of gang members who had been incarcerated
-conflicts within gangs
-migration of gang members from outside of the United States

Likely Signs of Teen Gang Involvement
The following are some of the many signs that might show that a teen is involved in a gang.

-knowingly associates with gang members -uses secret codes or signals to communicate with associates -fixates on particular colors of clothing or a particular logo used on clothing and to -decorate other items: this may include posters, tattoos, jewelry, etc. -has unexplained physical injuries that seem related to fighting -has more cash or more valuable possessions than one might reasonably expect -shows particular interest in gang activities, gang-related media and entertainment, etc. -raises police interest -withdraws from family, school, and community activities -breaks his/her curfew and other rules -is determinedly secretive -exhibits declines in school performance

I hope that everyone enjoyed my blog about Gangs, and I hope that you learned a thing or two. Thank you for reading.

The Most Dangerous Gang In the Country

Mara Salvatrucha perpetrate violence—from assaults to homicides, using firearms, machetes, or blunt objects—to intimidate rival gangs, law enforcement, and the general public. They often target middle and high school students for recruitment. And they form tenuous alliances...and sometimes vicious rivalries...with other criminal groups, depending on their needs at the time.

Who are they? Members of Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, most of them are Salvadoran nationals or first generation Salvadoran-Americans, but also Hondurans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and other Central and South American immigrants. According to the FBI Assessment MS-13 is considered a “High Level” threat to the entire country.
　

“MS-13 operates in at least 42 states and the District of Columbia and has about 6,000-10,000 members nationwide.” You heard right more than 6,000 members nationwide. Currently, the threat is highest in the western and northeastern parts of the country, which explains it because many of the Salvadoran immigrants come into those areas.

MS-13 members engage in a wide range of criminal activity, including drug distribution, murder, rape, prostitution, robbery, home invasions, immigration offenses, kidnapping, carjackings/auto thefts, and vandalism. Most of these crimes, you'll notice, have one thing in common—they are very violent. And while most of the violence is directed toward other MS-13 members or rival street gangs, innocent citizens often get caught in the crossfire.

MS-13 is expanding its membership at a "moderate" rate

through recruitment and migration. Some MS-13 members move to get jobs or to be near family members—currently, MS-13 often recruits new members by glorifying the gang lifestyle (like other gangs, they use the Internet to promote their gang) and by adding smaller gangs into MS-13.

“Right now, MS-13 has no official national leadership structure.” MS-13 originated in Los Angeles, but when members migrated, they began forming cliques that for the most part operated independently. These cliques, though, often maintain regular contact with members in other regions to coordinate recruitment/criminal activities and to prevent conflicts. Los Angeles gang members have an elevated status among MS-13 across the country, a system of respect that could potentially evolve into a more organized national structure.