The court system is no longer fast enough to sentence gang members to jail or prison before they commit additional crimes. It now takes longer for prosecutors to file charges, and it takes longer for the courts to set trial dates. Court congestion can often be attributed to the ever-growing backlog of gang case s. This affects both gang and non-gang trials. Juveniles are being used by adult gang members to commit crimes because they receive lesser sentences.
Most juvenile laws pose no significant threat or deterrent to gang involvement.
Jail is not a threat because juvenile sentences are minimal. Yet, the re is a need for more juvenile courts, since many of the juvenile gang members are committing more violent, felonious offenses. Courtroom security is becoming mandatory in many cases because of the potential violence posed by many of the gang members. They have little, if any, regard for authority and must be guarded at all times.