Identification or affiliation with gangs usually does not happen overnight. Pre-gang behavior usually begins at the elementary school age.
Children join gangs for a variety of reasons.
While the above items are characteristics of gang involvement, some youth who join or associate with gangs do not dress in the traditional gang clothes, and they do not exhibit noticeable behavior that indicates gang involvement. Parents must continually be aware of the behavior and activities of their children in order to prevent gang membership. Los jovenes participan en las pandillas por diferentes razones. Los padres tienen que saber del comportamiento y de las actividades de sus hijos. This summary is provided by the Office of Prevention, Texas Youth Commission.