Missionaries of the Sacred

There are many reasons why young people choose to join gangs. The societal structures of in­creasing poverty, social deterioration of the fam­ily and school systems seem to all be contributing factors for why youth enter gangs. Gangs provide a haven, offering acceptance, self-esteem, iden­tity, security, power and prestige. Through mem­bership in a gang, children and teens may find a sense of family and belonging that is often miss­ing from their natural family.

Gangs also have ways of providing money for their members. Criminal activities offer opportunities to make money quickly and older gang members who don’t want to be caught may be willing to offer children more money than their parents earn in a week to deliver a package or act as a look out. The ability to make money quickly can serve as the seduction method of recruitment. In addition, many gang members come from lower or low-middle class families who may be strug­gling financially.

Young people may also join gangs because they feel there are few alternatives, a feeling that can be exacerbated by limited job opportunities. Sometimes children and teens choose to join a gang for protection from violence and attacks from rival gangs in the community.