FBI Reports Growth of Gangs Across the United States

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment paints a grim picture of growing gang membership and violence.

According to the Report:

• Gangs are responsible for an average 48% of violent crime in most jurisdictions




• Gang membership reached 1.4 million in 33,000 gangs.




• Gangs are growing in their ability to use new technology and social media to engage in criminal activity.




• Gang members are accessing high-powered military-style weapons capable of inflicting great harm to law enforcement and the public.




• There have been 23,000 convictions of gang members in the past 10 years as a result of the FBI's Safe Streets task forces around the country.
  

Locally, there is a lot that can be done to reduce violence and encourage youth, including gang-involved youth, to become productive members of their community. A soon to be released Report by the East Harlem Juvenile Gang Task Force will include several recommendations to combat gang violence.