Preventing Gang Affiliation by Increasing Protective Factors

"From 2002–2006, gangs were responsible for approximately 20% of homicides in the 88 largest cities in the U.S.1 Research shows gang members are more likely than their non-gang affiliated peers to engage in crime and violence, which increases their risk of violence-related injuries and death. While only an estimated 5% of the U.S. population has ever joined a gang,2 gang membership has reached 14 to 30% of the population in many urban areas. 3, 4

A recent CDC study, “Risk and Protective Factors associated with Gang Affiliation among High-Risk Youth: A Public Health Approach,” was designed to identify risk and protective factors for gang affiliation to guide gang membership prevention strategies..."