As a parent, you’re always on the lookout for your children and anything that might harm them. First we should understand different ways a new gang member is initiated.

WHAT DO KIDS HAVE TO DO TO GET INTO THE GANG?

There are many different ways that gangs initiate recruits into the gang. The following are some examples of how gang members get initiated:

• Rolled in - (Jumped in, Quoted, Lined in) This ritual usually consists of the recruit having to fight 3 or more members of the gang for a specified amount of time. The time limit is different from gang to gang, but usually last somewhere between 15 seconds and 1 minute. The reason for the beating is to see how tough the recruit is and if he is a fighter.

• Lined in is slightly different in that the gang has two lines of its members and the recruit has to go between the line as the gang members beat him or her. Often times officers are called to new gang members homes at the request of the parent to take Assault reports. The child is often uncooperative and unwilling to tell the officer or his parent who his assailants are because he has just joined a gang. This is the most common initiation into the gang.

• Courted in – Sometimes an individual is asked to join a gang without going through any initiation. The individual usually has some type of special talent that the gang wants to learn or take advantage of. The individual may have a good connection for drugs, is good at stealing cars, or has some other criminal talent. It may also be that the individual has a car that the gang needs to commit criminal activity or just to get around town in.

• Walked In - Some gangs have no formal initiation and may just be asked to join the gang.

• Sexed In (or diced in) - Sometimes female recruits are required to roll 2 dice. Whatever number is thrown is the number of gang members that the recruit has to have sex with. There have also been stories of gang recruits required to have sex with HIV positive people. This information has never been verified and still remains only a story.

• Commit Crimes - Some gangs require that a recruit commit a crime or a series of crimes to prove that they are good candidates for the gangs. Often times, gangs that specialize in a particular crime such as auto theft, will require the recruit to steal a car or commit the crime that they specialize in. Some gangs have point systems for the crimes and the recruit has to have so many points. The crimes required to be committed can be as violent as drive-by shootings or murder.

WHAT SIGNS SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

• Major / Negative Behavior 
  

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• Gang Clothing
• Hand Signs Gang Tattoos
• Carrying Weapons
• Unexplained / fairly large sums of money
• Gang Graffiti

MAJOR/NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGES

• Typically, teenagers at some point in their life will rebel against authority. This is to be expected, but if it continues to get progressively worse this could be a sign of a child involved in gangs. The following are examples of behaviors consistent with that of gang members.
• Withdraws from family members. The gang becomes his / her family.
• Breaks parental rules consistently.
• Grades have dropped / trouble at school
• Lack of hobbies or interests
• Develops an unusual desire for privacy. Will not let you into their bedroom.
• Does not want you to meet their friends. Friends have nicknames like “Psycho” or “Shooter” and they either do not know the real names of their friends or won’t tell you.
• Obsessed with Gangster rap / gangster movies and videos / guns
• Possible use of alcohol / drugs
• Hanging with known or suspected gang members
• Frequent negative contact with police / other authority figures
• Admits to gang membership.

It is suggested that these problems be dealt with immediately. Denial that there is a problem or not dealing with the problem in the hope that it will go away will only make the matter worse.