 Dropout Services What is a gang? What types of activi-  Mentor Programs  Recreational Activities A gang is an ongoing, organized ties are gangs in-  Family Intervention and Training association of three or more persons — volved in?  Substance Abuse Counseling some are formal and others, informal, but  Group Homes most have a common name or common Social — Some gang activity may be  Self-Help Programs signs, colors, or symbols. Typically, socially motivated or include parties,  Counseling Services for Gangs, Families, members or associates individually or dances, and athletic events. Members Communities, and Teachers collectively engage in or have engaged in share the same feelings and ideologies  Educational Programs criminal activity. and are seldom delinquent.  Rehabilitation Programs

Delinquent — These gang members engage How did gangs begin? extensively in property offenses and in What are the various serious crimes. They are sometimes Gangs started in this country about the termed “serious delinquents”. Drug members of law time of the Industrial Revolution, when use and sale are relatively uniportant. people left their rural homes for the city. enforcement doing to There was inadequate housing and few jobs available, so the unemployed turned to counteract the gang’s crime to survive. After a short time, attractiveness to individuals found safety in larger numbers. They began to band together, thus forming youth? gangs. Early gangs were made up of the  Participating in a community aware poorest people–usually Irish, Italian, and ness campaign. Polish.  Contacting parents to alert them Gangs flourished and continued to grow that their children are involved well into the 1950s. Generally, gangs with a gang. fought in large groups and covered large  Sponsoring gang hotlines. territories. They were well-disciplined.  Organizing athletic events between Their weapons consisted of bats, chains, police and gang members. and fists. Gangs diminished in size in the  Making presentations about late 1960s and early 1970s, but gangs in schools. reappeared in the late 1970s tougher  Suppression. This approach has and more violent than ever. Today, worked, but the results are the majority of gangs are comprised sometimes short lived. of young people seeking attention  Gang task forces. These and interaction not found within are used to identify members their immediate family. and their operations  Neighboohood watch Characteris- programs.  New laws; Gang laws. tics of gang members: What can/should a  Lack of education or parent do? educational opportunities;  Lack of job opportunities or If you suspect your child is a member skills; of a gang or involved in gang-related  Absence of sufficient, positive activities get informed and get involved. adult role models; You CAN make a difference. For assistance  Lack of family support; or program information, contact:  Low self-esteem and the absence of a feeling of empowerment; STEP Inc., 7935 Page Avenue, St. Louis,  Drug and alcohol abuse; MO 63133; (314) 863-0015.  Lack of opportunities for pro-social interactions; St. Louis County Police Department gang hotline (for activity in that area): Violent — Violence in gangs and in their (314) 889-4264. Why do young people activities is extremely common and is done for gratification or retribution. Anti-Drug and Gang Task Force Unit, St. join a gang? Louis Caring Communities, Teen Drop-In Center, 5036 Thekla Avenue, St. Louis, The reasons for joining a gang may Drug activities — The main motivator for MO, 63115. You may contact them at range from wanting to have a good time to the gang’s existence is drugs. Their (314) 389-5029. (Serving Metropolitan pursuing entrepreneurial ventures that may greatest financial success has come St. Louis.) require a considerable commitment to from increased involvement in delinquent or criminal activity. narcotics trafficking. When these gangs Move Up (formerly AdHoc Group Against These reasons and correlates of gang first became involved with trafficking, Crime), 3330 Troost, Kansas City, MO participation, coupled with a society that is the predominant drugs were marijuana 64109. You may contact them at more violent and one that glamorizes gangs and PCP. This trend has progressed to (816) 531-0000. (This group provides and criminals on television and in movies, include cocaine, in particular, rock or intervention programs in the Kansas City.) make it no surprise that our youth are in crack. gangs. Within the gang, they find identity, security, companionship, and a sense of belonging they never knew at home. How can gang activity Still other youths join gangs merely for survival or protection from other gangs. be curbed? The gang may also represent a way to  Social Programs succeed and obtain material possessions  Establishing Community Centers that the youth would not otherwise have.  Employment Assistance Gang Glossary BANGER – Gang member or a person shoot- JIM JONES – Marijuana joint laced with co- SPEED BALL – Combination of heroin and co- ing in a caine caine drive-by. JUMP ON – Intimidation STRAPPED – Have a gun on you BANGING – Gang activities/fighting or vio- KEY – Kilo of cocaine in powder form TANGO & CASH – Fentanyl lence KIBBLES AND BITS – Crumbs of cocaine TEENAGER – 1/16 of an ounce of cocaine BG – Baby gangster KILLA – Killer TG – Tiny gangster BUSTED, POPPED A CAP – Shot at someone LIQUID JUICE/SHERM/WACK – PCP TWENTY – $20 piece of crack COLORS – Item of clothing which IDs a gang LOC’S – Dark sunglasses 20 CENTS – $20 worth of cocaine CRUMBS – Tiny pieces of rock cocaine Ludes – Nickname for Quaaludes VAPORS – Fumes from freebased cocaine DOWN FOR MINE – Ability to protect self MAN – The police/anyone in charge WACK PATIENT – An individual who smokes DOWN WITH T HE SET – On the gang’s own turf MUSHROOM – An innocent bystander shot in PCP DRESSED DOWN – Wearing gang-related col- drive by shooting WACKY TOBACCY – Marijuana ors O/G – Original gangster/old gangster/orga- WAD-UP – Stoned/high on drugs or alcohol DUSTED – Under the influence of PCP/crack nized WATER – PCP EIGHT BALL – 1/8 ounce of cocaine/40 ounce gangster WE’RE DOWN WITH THE SET – Mellow/fine/ bottle of Old English 800 malt liquor 187 – Penal code for murder in California secure/OK beer PACKING – Gang member has a gun in his pos- 5-0 – The police session FLYING YOUR COLORS – Representing gang PIPE HEAD – Crack addict Produced by: colors POPPED A CAP/BUSTED – Shot at someone the Public Information Education Division G – Gangster, homey PRIMO – Marijuana laced with cocaine Published by: GANGBANGER – Gang Member PUFFER – Cocaine smoker Missouri State Highway Patrol GANGBANGING – Gang activities Queen – Female member of a gang 1510 E. Elm St. GANGSTER – Gang Member Rig – Combination of hypodermic needle, Jefferson City MO 65101 GAT – Gun bottle cap, and a string or nylon to tie off (573) 751-3313 GRAVEYARD – This is a drug house which has arm before injecting drugs V/TDD (573)526-3313 either sold all their drugs or has been shut ROCK – Crystallized cocaine down by the ROLLIN GOOD – Selling drugs police. SAGGIN – Jailhouse life/wearing pants real HOME BOY – Fellow gang members low/gangstering HOMES – Fellow gang members SET – Specific gang/location of turf HOMEY – Fellow gang members SHOTCALLER – Person in charge/gang leader An Intenationally Accredited Agency HOOD – Neighborhood SLANGIN KEYS – Selling dope SHP-543 9/2000 HOODSTA – Gangster SLING OR SLANG – Deals or sells cocaine ICE – Crystal SPACE BASE – PCP/rock cocaine Source: 1998 National Survey Streetgang Report, JACK – Rob SPEED – Common name for LSD U.S. Department of Justice.