NCJ Number
146275
Journal
Thrust Dated: (May/June 1990) (January 1990) (September 1991) Pages: 12-13,18-19,P 17-22,P 28-37
Date Published
1991
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Education and positive alternatives as tools for dealing with gangs are reviewed.
Abstract
As California's demographics change, public high schools change. Along with the rich mix of cultures comes the infiltration of ethnic-based adult gangs into the school, with accompanying disorder and violence. There is an account of how one secondary school met the problem and successfully restored order through a combination of quick administrative action, cooperation of school personnel and the police, and open communication with all parties involved. There is an article on teaching students the art of conflict resolution and other positive methods of dealing with difficulty. The Granada Hills High School safe campus program demonstrates an action plan for coping with gangs. There are positive alternatives to gang membership. Family, school and community can provide options to young people to counter the influence of gangs. The San Bernardino Unified School District is trying to dissuade young children from joining gangs through a four-point program that includes: (1) an early identification and intervention program; (2) school police file of student gang members and activities; (3) school participation in an area law enforcement gang task force; and (4) an appropriate curriculum to help students resist the temptation to join a local gang. The job of tracking and identifying gang members in San Bernardino County will be faster and easier with the installation of the Gang Reporting, Evaluation and Tracking (GREAT) computer tracking system. This system, which contains information on almost 100,000 suspected gang members, offers educators and law enforcement agencies the potential for developing a statewide gang information network.