Juvenile gang activity among adolescents has also increased in the Salt Lake City area. In 1993, the Salt Lake Area Gang Project identified 213 gangs and 1,809 active gang members in the Salt Lake City vicinity. Gang members were involved in over 4,000 criminal or delinquent acts in 1993. Solutions to the problems of youth violence and juvenile gang activity are reviewed through required readings. In addition to classroom participation, students are required to meet with a troubled youth and participating agencies in the community for a total of three hours per week.
Students receive training in how to effectively mentor troubled youth during class sessions.
Approaches for understanding and working with ethnically-diverse and female youth will be examined and discussed in the class. Finally, a series of field trips and guest speakers will be scheduled to further facilitate classroom learning and community service experiences. Readings Assigned readings for each week should be read prior to the class meeting. Oxford University Press. Oxford University Press.