In the Detroit area, gangs have expanded into some of the very affluent suburbs. A wealthy family does not guarantee that a child will not join a gang. Gang membership is also not limited by race, although some gangs may organize along racial or ethnic lines. In some cases this feeling may come from the use of drugs, which is often part of gang life. Gangs want to instill fear among citizens, in part to try and discourage people from reporting gang activity or taking action against it.
Gangs develop in three stages.
Graffiti often starts to appear at this stage. The third stage is corporate, where the gang is organized and into dealing drugs. At this stage, gang members often have plenty of money to spend. However, there is influence from more organized gangs through recruiting, breaking and entering, and drug sales. Gang signs have started to appear in the area, including graffiti on buildings and gang-related symbols on student notebooks and folders.