There are a whole range of reasons as to why young people join gangs. There may be trouble within the family home. Abuse, both physical and mental, alcohol or drug abuse. There could be a distinct lack of love, care and attention by the parent/s toward their child - leading to self-harm, drug abuse or alcohol abuse. Any number of reasons, from being overly-critical of anything your child does or says, to never being home when they get back from school.

Whatever the reason, the fact is that what goes on in the home, has an effect to the wider society as a whole. What goes on within the home, rebounds to the wider world, resulting in gangs forming. Gangs form for many reasons, for a sense of ’belonging’, a sense of ’family’. They view the outside world with mistrust, with anger and with resentment.

They view all those who they perceive to belong to the outside world, as ’the enemy’ and all authority - including the authority of their parents, teachers, and law enforcement agencies as defunct. They hold no fear about what happens to themselves or what happens to others. And this certainly then makes them dangerous. Because a person - and certainly gangs who hold no fear-, are to be feared themselves by society as a whole.

The effect that gangs have on the wider society is there for all to see. This results in no-go areas for certain people - based on race, class, gang colours or whatever other reason they make. A stranger wandering into their ‘patch’ normally ends up dead or at the least, badly beaten. And their presence within the community is one of fear, resentment and a feeling of helplessness.

Helplessness that nothing can be done to tackle the problem of gangs forming on the streets. No matter how many rules and regulations, councils and indeed the national government bring out to try and curb the gangs, nothing seems to work. The deep sense of resentment and hopelessness that most young people within the gangs feel, is very real. But are their issues being addressed? It seems that at least one group are trying to address the problems of gangs within the USA.

This group, calling itself ’The Centre for Social Justice have been travelling around the country. Their mission is to find out about gangs, their make-up, the cause of their formations and their strategies for tackling the gang problem within the United States. Working in conjunction with the law enforcement agencies, in Boston and Los Angeles, they went on a fact-finding mission. You can read about what they found here by clicking the link.

The effect that gangs have upon the local community is obviously, negative. Those within the community view the gangs with fear, resentment and anger. They feel imprisoned within their own homes, when darkness falls. And even in during daylight hours, they are fearful to even walk the streets in case they get mugged or even murdered, or even caught in a crossfire between warring gang factions.

The effect that the gangs have upon the community is a draining negative force, that stops people from living their lives. This not only does great damage to the psychology of that community - their mental health and well-being - but also financially too. Stores that once served the local community would now close early, or not open at all. And, of course, the financial impact of all of this within areas were gangs are, is profound.

Insurance premiums shoot up - if one is lucky enough to be able to get insurance at all for their homes in high gangland areas. And so the whole thing becomes a vicious circle. People stop living, and begin to fear every knock on their front door, every ring of their phone. They begin to fear being accosted on their way home, or on their way to work, and life becomes like a living hell.

And the cause of all of this, is the gangs? But should the gangs take all the blame? The reason for their formation gives food for thought. Lack of things to do, breakdown within the family unit, lack of interest by their parents in their progress. Heavy-handed police tactics, politicians that don’t give a damn about their cares or worries and issues - and so the issues go on.

Of course, to make matters worse, the drug problem escalates the sense of hopelessness and despair that not only the local community feel, but for some within the gangs feel too. And there is no easy solution to the myriad of problems that befalls a community once a gang takes over. And for those youngsters who are looking to get out from the gang culture, they are trapped. Trapped by the fact that if they did leave, their own lives - or/and the lives of their family members would then come under threat. So, in many cases, they are forced to stick with the gangs, whether they like it or not.

There is no easy solution to this major problem, which is not just confined to the United States of America, but to nearly all corners of the world. Many young people look upon gangs as ‘family’ as a ‘safe haven’, so-to-speak, were they will be looked after. But, as always, there is a price to pay, and the price is very often too much to pay…leave the gang by all means…but it will be in a box.

And within communities where there are high levels of gang-related crimes, the death rate shoots up. The deaths of gang members and innocent members of the public caught up in the crossfire, will continue to rise until those in authority really begin to listen to what is being said.