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## Other Youth Topics

## Breadcrumb

            -  Youth Topics 
            -  Gang Involvement Prevention 
            -           Federal Data      

# Federal Data

Tracking gang statistics and trends can help to assess the demographics of gangs in the U.S., including age range, prevalence, location, and types of crime associated with gangs. This information can help to target prevention initiatives and interventions, and determine youth at risk for gang involvement.

## Gang Activity and Violence

Although gang activity1 in the U.S. showed a decline in the mid 1990’s to 2000, it increased from 2001 to 2005 and has since remained constant. Over the past decade, annual estimates of the number of gangs have averaged about 25,000 nationally and the number of gang members has been about 750,000**.**2
                      - In 2009, larger cities and suburban counties accounted for the majority of gang-related violence and more than 96 percent of all gang homicides. 3
                      - During 2009-2012, cities with 100,000 or more persons saw gang-related homicides increase by 13 percent. 4
                      - In Chicago and Los Angeles, nearly half of all homicides were attributed to gang violence from 2009-2012. 5

## Demographic Characteristics of Gang Members

                      - Between 1998 and 2009, gang members were overwhelmingly male with less than ten percent of total gang members being female. Learn more about the involvement of girls in gangs and juvenile delinquency.  
                      - While the majority of gang members are adults, as of 2008, two out every five gang members are under 18, as reported by law enforcement. 6
                      - The prevalence of youth under 18 in gangs is higher in smaller cities and rural communities where gang problems are less established, compared to larger cities. 7
                      - Between 1996 and 2008, gang members were more likely to be Hispanic/Latino and African-American/black than other race/ethnicities. Specifically they reported gang members were 50 percent Hispanic or Latino, 32 percent African American, 10 percent white, and 8 percent identifying as another race or ethnicity.8

## Resources

**National Youth Gang Survey Analysis**This annual survey of law enforcement agencies is developed and implemented by the National Gang Center and is used to assess the extent of gang problems by measuring the presence, characteristics, and behaviors of local gangs in jurisdictions throughout the country. 

**2011 National Gang Threat Assessment**The 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment is a comprehensive annual report developed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

**Violence by Gang Members, 1993-2003** (PDF, 2 pages)This brief from the Bureau of Justice Statistics discusses national crime rates, violent assaults, and the percentage in which a gang or gang member was identified as the perpetrator. Rates of gang violence are given by gender, race, and age.

**National Gang Center**The National Gang Center website features the latest research and discussion about gangs, evidence-based anti-gang programs, as well as links to tools, databases, and other resources to assist in developing and implementing effective community-based gang prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies.

**National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)**The NCVS is the nation’s primary source for information on criminal victimization. Data is reported on the likelihood of victimization by certain types of assault and by different segments of the population such as women, the elderly, and racial groups.

**Uniform Crime Reports**These reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation summarize arrest data from police agencies across the country, from 1995 to the present day. Topics covered include crime in the U.S., hate crime, and law enforcement officers killed and assaulted.

## References

1 According to the National Gang Center, gang activity includes gang graffiti, drug sales, firearms use, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, theft, and motor vehicle theft.2 Egley & Howell, 20113 Egley & Howell, 20114 Egley & Howell, 20125 Egley & Howell, 20126 National Gang Center, 20127National Gang Center, 20128 National Gang Center, 2012

## Other Resources on this Topic

### Announcements 

                          - Literature Review: Hate Crimes and Youth
                          - National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims
                          - Parents’ Guide to Gangs: Now Available in Spanish
                          - Podcast: The Science of School Safety
                          - Report: Gun Carrying Among Youth
                          - Report: Patterns of Juvenile Court Referrals of Youth Born in 2000
                          - Report: Prevention with Purpose: A Resource for Campus Police and Public Safety Personnel
                          - Resource: A Law Enforcement Official’s Guide to the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model
                          - Resource: Association of County-Level Poverty and Inequities with Firearm-Related Mortality in U.S. Youth
                          - Resource: Data Snapshot: Youth Victims of Suicide and Homicide
                          - Resource: Fast Facts on Firearm Violence Prevention
                          - Resource: Firearm Deaths Grow, Disparities Widen: Comprehensive Strategies Can Prevent Violence and Help Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities
                          - Resource: Five Things About Juvenile Delinquency Intervention and Treatment
                          - Resource: Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources
                          - Resource: Let's Talk Podcast - The Offical National Runaway Safeline Podcast
                          - Resource: Prevention and Early Intervention Efforts Seek to Reduce Violence by Youth and Youth Recruitment by Gangs
                          - Resource: Probation Reform: A Toolkit for State Advisory Groups (SAGs)
                          - Resource: Resilience, Opportunity, Safety, Education, Strength (ROSES) Program
                          - Resource: The Fight Against Rampant Gun Violence: Data-Driven Scientific Research Will Light the Way
                          - Resource: Trends in Youth Arrests for Violent Crimes
                          - Resource: Violence Prevention in Practice
                          - Resource: We Meet Them Where They Are: The Importance of Mentoring as a Component of Youth Gang Violence Intervention
                          - Second Chance Month: April 2023
                          - Student Reports of Bullying: Results from the 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey
                          - Webpage: Youth Violence Intervention Initiative
                          - Youth Voices Have Moved to YE4C

### Collaboration Profiles 

                          - Memphis Fast Forward
                          - National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (NFYVP)

### Data Sources 

                          - National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
                          - National Youth Gang Survey Analysis
                          - Uniform Crime Reports

### Feature Articles 

                          - Bryan Stevenson Delivers Five Key Messages During 2013 Summit Closing Remarks
                          - Cities Working Together to Reduce Youth Violence
                          - Gang Prevention: An Overview of Research and Programs
                          - Highlights from the 2012 Summit on Preventing Youth Violence
                          - Just Launched! Redesigned YE4C
                          - National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Working Session 2011
                          - National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Working Session 2012
                          - September 2013 Summit on Preventing Youth Violence

### Programs 

                          - Gang Resistance and Education Program

### Publications 

                          - 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment
                          - Best Practices to Address Community Gang Problems: OJJDP's Comprehensive Gang Model
                          - Changing Course: Preventing Gang Membership
                          - Growth of Youth Gang Problems in the United States: 1970-98
                          - Highlights of the 2010 National Youth Gang Survey
                          - Highlights of the 2012 National Youth Gang Survey
                          - Implementing the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model
                          - Juvenile Justice Bulletin: Gang Prevention
                          - Predictors of Youth Violence
                          - Prevalence and Implementation Fidelity of Research-Based Prevention Programs in Public Schools
                          - The Impact of Gangs on Communities
                          - Violence by Gang Members, 1993-2003

### Resources 

                          - Gender-Specific Programming
                          - Q&A: Robin Petering on Homeless Youth and Gangs
                          - Research and Evaluation Projects on Gangs
                          - Resource: Redesigned National Gang Center Website

### Tools & Guides 

                          - A Guide to Assessing Your Community’s Youth Gang Problem
                          - Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Strategic Planning Tool
                          - Parents’ Guide to Gangs
                          - Parents’ Guide to Gangs: Now Available in Spanish
                          - Risk and Protective Factors Data Tool

### Videos & Podcasts 

                          - Why Youth Join Gangs

### Websites 

                          - Federal Bureau of Prisons
                          - Gangs (Security Threat Groups)
                          - National Gang Center

### Youth Topics 

                          - Adverse Effects
                          - Gang Involvement Prevention
                          - Girls, Juvenile Delinquency, and Gangs
                          - Prevention Efforts
                          - References
                          - Violence Prevention

## Youth Briefs

How Individualized Education Program (IEP) Transition Planning Makes a Difference for Youth with Disabilities
Youth who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and especially young adults of transition age, should be involved in planning for life after high school as early as possible and no later than age 16. Transition services should stem from the individual youth’s needs and strengths, ensuring that planning takes into account his or her interests, preferences, and desires for the future.

Youth Transitioning to Adulthood: How Holding Early Leadership Positions Can Make a Difference
Research links early leadership with increased self-efficacy and suggests that leadership can help youth to develop decision making and interpersonal skills that support successes in the workforce and adulthood. In addition, young leaders tend to be more involved in their communities, and have lower dropout rates than their peers. Youth leaders also show considerable benefits for their communities, providing valuable insight into the needs and interests of young people

How Trained Service Professionals and Self-Advocacy Makes a Difference for Youth with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Co-occurring Issues
Statistics reflecting the number of youth suffering from mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders highlight the necessity for schools, families, support staff, and communities to work together to develop targeted, coordinated, and comprehensive transition plans for young people with a history of mental health needs and/or substance abuse.

Young Adults Formerly in Foster Care: Challenges and Solutions
Nearly 30,000 youth aged out of foster care in Fiscal Year 2009, which represents nine percent of the young people involved in the foster care system that year. This transition can be challenging for youth, especially youth who have grown up in the child welfare system.

Coordinating Systems to Support Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Needs
Research has demonstrated that as many as one in five children/youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Read about how coordination between public service agencies can improve treatment for these youth.

Civic Engagement Strategies for Transition Age Youth
Civic engagement has the potential to empower young adults, increase their self-determination, and give them the skills and self-confidence they need to enter the workforce. Read about one youth’s experience in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).

## Main navigation

- Gang Involvement Prevention
- Federal Data
- Risk & Protective Factors
- Adverse Effects
- Girls, Juvenile Delinquency, & Gangs
- Prevention Efforts
- References

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## Latest Resources

### Announcements

Second Chance Month: April 2023

Report: Prevention with Purpose: A Resource for Campus Police and Public Safety Personnel

Resource: We Meet Them Where They Are: The Importance of Mentoring as a Component of Youth Gang Violence Intervention

### Collaboration Profiles

National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (NFYVP)

Memphis Fast Forward

### Feature Articles

Just Launched! Redesigned YE4C

Bryan Stevenson Delivers Five Key Messages During 2013 Summit Closing Remarks

Gang Prevention: An Overview of Research and Programs

### Publications

Violence by Gang Members, 1993-2003

The Impact of Gangs on Communities

Predictors of Youth Violence

### Resources

Resource: Redesigned National Gang Center Website

Research and Evaluation Projects on Gangs

Q&A: Robin Petering on Homeless Youth and Gangs

### Youth Topics

Adverse Effects

Prevention Efforts

References