Gang activity can affect communities not only in a major metropolis but also in small towns. Many law enforcement agencies are concerned with identifying reasons why gangs exist in their community as well as implementing programs to deter gang activity.

School Involvement

Many schools sponsor police officers to speak with youth about the danger of gangs or even assign an officer to a school during the school year. When an officer makes a visible presence on school grounds, many students develop skills to say "no" when tempted to join gangs.

Mentor Involvement

Part of an effective gang resistance program is to recruit and train adult leaders and volunteers in the community to work with at-risk youth. Working with churches and businesses are just a few avenues law enforcement has for recruiting adults.

Neighborhood Involvement

Since it is impossible for an officer to be everywhere at once, establishing neighborhood watch programs can be crucial in deterring gang activity. Local residents and business owners are trained through this program to secure their neighborhoods.

Extracurricular Activities

Police officers can work as liasons between community centers and at-risk youth to provide them with alternatives to gang activity. Activities may include sports, crafts and hobbies, study groups and homework help.

Gang Task Force

Many larger communities budget for special gang task forces. These agencies work not only with local authorities, but also on the state and federal level.

Source:

DocStoc: Combating Gang Violence

More Information:

Information about gang history