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## Other Youth Topics

## Breadcrumb

            -  Youth Topics 
            -  Gang Involvement Prevention 
            -           Adverse Effects      

# Adverse Effects

Youth gang involvement impacts the health and welfare of the individual, as well as that of his or her family, peers, and community.

## Youth Involved in Gangs

The numerous consequences stemming from gang involvement can have varying degrees of short and long-term negative outcomes. Youth who become involved in gangs face the increased risk of
                      - dropping out of school;
                      - teen parenthood;
                      - unemployment;
                      - victimization;
                      - drug and alcohol abuse;
                      - committing petty and violent crimes; and
                      - juvenile conviction and incarceration. 1

Further, a youth’s involvement with a gang (or gangs) also leads to an increased likelihood of economic hardship and family problems in adulthood, which in turn, contribute to involvement in street crime and/or arrest in adulthood. Research has suggested that the longer an adolescent stays in a gang the more disruption he or she will experience while transitioning into adulthood and in adulthood itself.2

## Impact on Communities

Large communities, those with a population over 50,000, are at the greatest risk of significant gang activity, and community members face heightened fear that they, their families, schools, or businesses, will become victims of theft and/or violence. Further, communities with gang activity are disproportionately affected by theft, negative economic impact, vandalism, assault, gun violence, illegal drug trade, and homicide.3

## Impact on Society

On the societal level, youth gang involvement costs local, state, and federal governments a substantial amount of money in prevention, response, incarceration, and rehabilitation efforts. It has been estimated that overall crime in the U.S. costs taxpayers $655 billion annually4 with a substantial amount of this crime attributed to gang activity.5

## Resources

**The Impact of Gangs on Communities** (PDF, 9 pages)This National Youth Gang Center bulletin gives a comprehensive discussion on the effects of gangs within communities and the lifelong effects of this problem. Factors taken into account include demographics of a community, and the impacts gang activity can have on the economic and physical climate of an affected area.    

## References

1 Howell, 2006; Krohn, Ward, Thornberry, & Lizotte, 20112 Hill et al., 19993 McDaniel, 20124 The approximated cost of gangs cannot be calculated since gang crimes are not routinely and systematically documented in most law enforcement agencies. (Hill et al., 1999)5 Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 2004

## 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