“Youth Gang Prevention
& Intervention”
By Gabe Morales
© 2015 All Rights Reserved
Course Objectives:
“Gangs 101”– Gauge personal gang involvement and
know common terms, problems, and possible solutions.
"Interviewing & Feedback" – How to ask questions/get
accurate answers (Individual Picture) for Prevention.
“Gang Causative Factors and Intervention” is the
dynamic, ongoing effort that brings agencies and
individuals together to help reduce gang-related
behaviors in institutions, in homes, and in our
communities (Bigger Picture).
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Personal Introduction &
Attendee Introductions
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Pt. 1
Gangs 101: Identification & Causes
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Gang Mentality
• Code of Silence
• Insults, no matter how
small, never go
unanswered
• Payback ASAP
• Loyalty to Homeboys
• Attitude toward violence
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Gang Sociology
• Peer Acceptance
• Protection
• Guidance
• Love
• Shelter
• Money
• Friendship
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• Understanding
7
The Deception
Hypes vs. Reality:
Freedom – But Delivers Bondage
Joy – But Delivers Misery
Pleasure – But Delivers Pain
Popularity – But Delivers Loneliness
Success – But Delivers Failure
Wealth – But Delivers Poverty
Laughter – But Delivers Weeping
Friends – But Delivers Only Enemies
Love – But Delivers Only Hate
Contentment – But Delivers Torment
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Why Youth Join Gangs
• Structure
• Nurturing
• Sense of Belonging
• Peer Pressure
• Economic Opportunity
• Protection
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Early Warning Signs
• Social withdrawal
• Excessive feelings of isolation and being alone
• Excessive feelings of rejection
• Being a victim
• Feelings of being picked on and persecuted
• Low school interest, poor academic
performance
• Drug and alcohol use
• Problems maintaining relationships with family
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FAMILY
SCHOOLS
SERVICE
PROVIDERS
PAROLE
YOUTH
PROBATION/
COURTS
PRISON
JAILS
POLICE
How can we all work together better to assist in all agencies/elements?
Gang Hierarchy
Organized Crime
Prison Gangs
Street Gangs
Associates
Wanna-B’s/Gonna-B’s
At-Risk Teens 13-19
New 2008 WA State Definition: A
"criminal street gang" is any ongoing
organization, association, or group of
three or more persons, whether formal or
informal, having a common name or
common identifying sign or symbol,
having as one of its primary activities the
commission of criminal acts, and whose
members or associates individually or
collectively engage in or have engaged in
a pattern of criminal street gang activity.
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Group Exercise
Basic Human Needs:
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When I say…
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Parent/Caregiver
Assessment?
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Common Characteristics of Gang Members

Apathetic/Fatalistic

Teenage Parent

Limited Education

Weak Family Bonds/Support

Criminal Past

Susceptible to Peer Pressure

Substance Abuse

Tattooed/Wears “Gang Attire”

Poor Work History

Street Dialogue/Mannerisms
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Common Evolution of a Gang Member:
• Mult. Thefts as Juvenile
• Low Level Drug Dealing
• Assault/Robbery
• Pimping/PVs as Adult
• High Level Drug Dealing
• Addiction to Product
• In & Out Jail/Prison
• Life Changing Experience or
• Life in Prison-Taxpayer$$$$$?
Current Issues of Youth Today:
• 1 out of 2 College Grads - about 1.5 million, or about 53.6 percent, of
bachelor's degree holders age 25 or younger -- were Unemployed.
• Only 56% of American Teens believe they’ll be as well off as their
parents financially at their age -- a 37 percent drop since 2011.
• 20% of American Youth are Obese, the most in the entire World.
• Suicide is the 3rd Leading Cause of Death for 15 - to - 24 years olds,
and the sixth leading cause of death for 5 - to - 14 year olds.
• 17 % of Youth Reported they took a Weapon to School in the
previous 30 days. 21% of high school seniors say they get high
frequently and 41% of the same group report drinking alcohol on a
regular basis.
• U.S. Inmates – 40%Black & 16%Latino (both = 29% U.S. total pop)
WA Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration
Each year, JRA provides treatment to approximately 1,800 juvenile
offenders who may range in age from 8 to 21 years old. Many of these
youth are entering JRA with both acute and complex service needs.
For example, youth currently in JRA residential care have the
following needs:
• 64 % have Significant Mental Health Issues,
• 81 % are Chemically Dependent,
• 40 % are Cognitively Impaired,
• 30 % have Sexual Misconduct Issues, and
• 60 % of these youth require treatment for two or more of these
conditions!
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Hispanic Gangs
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Hispanic Gang Structure
Veteranos
Homeboys
Big Smiley 25 yo
Homegirls
Smiley 20 yo
La Smiley
Pee-Wees
Lil Smiley 15 yo
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Baby Smiley 10 yo
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Mid-70’s-on…
CALIFORNIA
NF
Norte
14
eMe
SUR
13
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Hispanic Gangs
WASHINGTON
eMe
SUR
13
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NF
Norte
14
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3 Basic Kinds of Surenos:

Originally from Southern California

Originally from Mexico/Latin America

Local kids who adopted the Sureno Mentality
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Tacoma Area SUR13 Gangs
ELS-East Side Locos Surenos
ESVL-East Side Vatos Locos
EF-Evergreen Flats
F13-Florencia
LPS-Locos Pandilleros Surenos
LVL-Lil Valley Locos
SSL-South Side Locos
Varrio Sur Locos
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PBS-Playboys (SS)
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Seattle Area SUR13 Gangs
LVL-Lil Valley Locos
SSL-South Side Locos
VL-Varrio Locos
VL-Vatos Locos
VSL-Varrio Sur Locos
CES-Callejones Escondidos Sur
SV-Sureno Villains
PBS-Playboys (SS)
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RSP-Rancho San Pedro
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Late
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’70’s response to Sur Hispanic gangs
Allies of and subservient to the NF/NS/NR
Originally not as sophisticated as Surenos
Often Wear Red – Usually American Born
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Use 14, X4, XIV, Norte, eNe, N, ::, etc.
Native American Gangs
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African-American Gangs
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Basic Crip Gang Structures
CRIPS
Sets
R60’s
SBC
OG’s
Kitchen
OG’s
YG’s
YG’s
BG’s
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OG’s
YG’s
BG’s
Hilltop
Hoover
OG’s
OG’s
YG’s
BG’s
YG’s
BG’s
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BG’s
Known Tacoma Area Gangs
Crips/Blue
Bloods/Red
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hilltop Crips HTC
The Family
Eastside Gangster Crips
Knoccout Crips
Lakewood Hustler Crip Gang
Young Gangster Crips
Mid-Town Crips
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East Side Piru
Seven Deuce Mob
Kushman Block Bloods
West Side Piru
People Nation
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Known Tacoma Area Gangs
Folks Sets
• 96 Gangster Disciples
(Murderville)
• 66 Scanless Fam Folks
• Tillicum Park Gangsters
• 56 Crime Fam
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Known Seattle Area Gangs
Crips/Blue
Bloods/Red
Neighborhood Crips
Elm Pirus (from Compton)
Rolling 60/90’s
Seattle Mafia Bloods
New Holly Crips
Yesler Terrance Bloods
44 Holly Crips
Lime Hood Piru (Lake City)
52 Hoovers
Seattle Mafia Piru
74 Hoover Crips
Valley Hood Piru, 2900 Block
83 Hoovers
West Side Street Mobb
92 Hoovers
107 Hoovers
Highway Hoovers/Pac Hwy Criminals
Santana Blocc Crips
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GANGSTER DISCIPLE FAMILIES IN SEATTLE/GREATER KING CO.
• Down With The Crew, D-Dubb (53rd Avenue & S. Henderson Street vs. 28)
• Horton Block (34th Avenue & S. Horton Street)
• 48th & Juneau (South End Folks)
• East Union Street Hustlers (21st, 23rd Avenues)
• 28th Avenue & S. Jackson Street (Deuce-8 vs. DWC)
• 25th & Hill Side (Deuce-Jive)
• 24th & Dearborn (D-Block)
• 26th & Pine (26P)
• 26th & Cherry (CD)
• 27th & Cherry- Money Over Everything (MOE)
• Central District Savages (CDS)
• Out Seeking Crime (OSC-CD)
• West Side BGD (Burien/West Seattle)
• Low Profile (Folk & Piru alliance)
• Brothers of the Struggle (BOS)
• Maniac Latin Disciples (few here)
• Insane Gangster Disciples (few here)
• Gangster Disciples (Some White members also)
• North End-Seattle (get along with Crips)
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• 253 Folks (Tacoma-get along with Crips )
Asian & Pacific Is. Gangs
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Often will claim:
• Crip
• Blood
• or Independent
Some run with Crews, then disband, join new
Crews, Highly Mobile, More Unstructured
than Structured nature of Triads & Tongs
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Pacific Islander Gangs
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Seattle/Tacoma Area Pacific Islander Gangs
Crips
Bloods
Sons of Samoa
Young Uso Clicc
Tongan Crip Gang/Family
W/S Islanders
United Blood Nation
Mad Pack
W/S Mafia Bloods
Samoan Mafia
Gangsters
Active Park USO
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White Gangs
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Youth Sub-Cultures
7/11/06 – Tacoma News Tribune - For several nights last month, a group of thugs with black hooded
sweat shirts pulled tight over their heads, including at least one in "angry" clown makeup, terrorized
visitors to Pierce County's Fort Steilacoom Park, police say.
The group cried "woo, woo, Juggalo" as they assaulted park visitors with a machete and fists. They
stole cellphones, cash and wallets and even threatened to cut their victims' heads off, according to court
documents.
So far, two men and a woman have been charged with robbery and assault for their alleged roles in the
string of attacks, said Pierce County deputy prosecutor Phil Sorensen. Prosecutors say the suspects
claim to be "Juggalos," a subculture that has developed among the fan base of the rap/metal group
Insane Clown Posse.
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Myth: Gang members only come from the “Varrio” or “Ghetto”
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Drug usage and the glamorization of the "gang
culture" has attracted the attention of a growing
number of white middle-class and occasionally even
high income families via TV, Music, and the Internet.
The gang culture and style has become "en-vogue“!
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Police say much of the rise in gun violence in Seattle area due to gangs
August 25, 2015 (AP)
Seattle police say there has been an increase in gun violence this
summer, and many of the shootings are related.
“In a lot of these incidents, yesterday's victim is tomorrow's shooter or
vice versa,” said Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole. “There are a
very small number of people causing a large number of incidents here.”
But innocent people are also getting caught in the crossfire…
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Pt. 2
Interviewing & Feedback
For Prevention
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What are the 3 Main
Components for a
Comprehensive AntiGang Strategy?
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Prevention
Intervention
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Suppression
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DEFINITIONS
Prevention: Action of stopping something from happening or
arising in the first place.
Intervention: Action taken to improve or change a current situation.
Suppression: Stoppage or reduction of something from occurring.
Interactive Skills Can Work With Youth
(Ending the Schools to Prison Pipeline):
Prevention can work to counter the negative effects of gangs (Be Pro-Active)!
Intervention: Identify Youth, Clarify Problem Behaviors, Staff
Reaction/Support Change, Gain Youth Compliance, Follow-up…
Who are the At-Risk Kids, Associates, Gang Members, Hard-Core?
Focus on harmful behaviors. Youth may have a dysfunctional family
structure, show low motivation, have little interest in school, or have
no occupational goals. They may exhibit signs of drug/alcohol use.
Working with Gang Affiliated Youth and using
“Glasser’s Reality Theory”
Every interaction with a gang-affiliated persons has the
potential of being therapeutic without being therapy. That
person would not be involved in the gang if it was not
meeting certain needs in their life.
All people have 4 basic needs that they consciously strive to
achieve to Survive in this World:
Power, Freedom, Fun, and Belonging…
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Power
Gangs provide a feeling of power”.
They feel they are “in charge”!
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Freedom
Gangs don’t have to follow
rules/law, in fact enjoy doing
whatever they want!
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Fun
Gangs are exciting!
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Belonging
Gangs are like family!
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Prevention: Creating a Positive Environment for Youth
We Must do a Better Job of Coaching Kids in +Life Skills!
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Ways to Prevent Gangs
• Know Your Kids Friends & Parents
• Get MySpace Passwords, etc.
• Monitor Time Spent Outside Home
• Set Time Limits and Expectations
• Talk to Teachers and Counselors
• Beware of Changes in Behavior
• Beware of possible Gang Symbols
•Teach Good Values & Morals
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Educational & Career Decisions:
Can also help to intervene in lives, but some
parents may give up on their kids and expect
“The State” to raise them (you) or maybe decide
to send them to “Boot-Camp” or the “Job Corps”.
Recreational Opportunities are also great!
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Identifying Youth-at-Risk &
Intervening When Gang Behaviors Arise
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Institutions and Group Homes can provide gang intervention
through one-on-one counseling or through Group Therapy. The
groups need to be small (no more than 8-10)
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“Verbal threats, physical intimidation, and vicious rumor
are basic tools used by gang members against other kids…”
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Serious assaults and fights can and will occur in school.
Be pro-active, sit and chat…find out what happened!
If an incident has already occurred, make it clear it is
under your review – BUILD TRUST!
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Pt. 3
Interviewing & Feedback
For Prevention
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Group Discussion on Intervention
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Youth Intervention Strategies:
The first step of action, is to get out of
the “Denial Syndrome”!
When the first signs of drug or gang
involvement are present staff and Parents
need to intervene.
Get a “Plan of Action” for each gang
affiliated youth and document in files.
Get a “Plan of Action” to deal with
general gang problems:
TEAMWORK!
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Encouraged Kids to Get More Involved !
(in art or writing as another positive experience).
Watch out for gang drawings, pictures, or symbols. Confiscate
them and later approach the kid about it away from his peers.
Address it and question motives. Give back positive reinforcement
and guidance on appropriate behaviors.
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• One-on-One Counseling, Verbal, Written,
Disciplinary Sanctions, Follow-up Visits
• Drug and Alcohol Classes
• Anger Management Classes
• Faith Based Intervention
• Tattoo Laser Removal
• Truancy Issues
• Health Care
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• Do a continuous diagnosis of gang problems
• Monitoring of performance of the individual (in & out)
• Parent Support Groups (important for follow-up)
• Evaluation of intervention impact on the youth
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Wrap Around Approach
• Needs identified by the entire Family
• Built on Foundation of Family Strengths
• Individualized Plans are Family Driven
• The “Intervention Team” is chosen by the Family
• The Team has a Unified Mission & Future Goals
• Parents are “Equal Partners” with Team Efforts
• Natural Support Systems & Community Resources
are a “Key” to the Plan’s Eventual Success!!!
Interview and Documentation:
Identify the “behavior”, not your own personal
“interpretation”, leave that to others unless relevant!
Lack of data/tracking of disciplinary
problem individuals can be a problem
...if not in writing, it didn’t happen!
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Communication Methods
•Words
•Tone
=
=
38%
•Body Language =
•Total
7%
55%
= 100%
Advanced: Cognitive Skills
•Clear Goals
•Depersonalize Conflict
•Personalize Cooperation
•Presenting Choices
Two Components of Effective Communication
• Content: Thoughts, Ideas and Information
• Context: Feelings emotions (perceptions)
Dealing with Negative Behavior
4 Basic Skill Strategies:
1. SET CLEAR GOALS
2. DEPERSONALIZE CONFLICT
3. PERSONALIZE COOPERATION
4. PRESENT CHOICES
THE CHOICE MODEL
• Present with Choices:
• Give choices and the consequences that come with those choices
• Communicate – “its up to you to…”
• Take the threat out of the consequences and emphasize the positives
• Convey your readiness with your presented choices (ideally not win-lose)
• Try and end on a positive note by encouraging them to make the right choice
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Keys to Living a Balanced Life:
Mind
Body
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Spirit
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The Youth are Our Future!
Let’s give children more Hope & Support!
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CLOSING
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Where to Get More Information:
• Other Training, Parent Groups/Asoc., etc.
• Books, News Articles, Electronic Sources
• Consulting Services, Agency Resources
• Gabe Morales gcmorales2020@gmail.com
• Cell # 206-372-1251
• http://www.gangpreventionservices.org