ple from all economic levels and ethnic backgrounds join gangs for many reasons. *Gangs are primarily involved in fighting, vandalism, graffiti art, armed robbery, weapon offenses, auto theft battery and drug dealing. It is important that I stress that not all gangs engage in illegal activities.
             Given the fact that many young people, because of their psychosocial stage of development, need to be in groups, conform to youth culture, and at times dress in provocative clothing and sport distinctive hairstyles, they often draw attention to themselves from adults and especially police officers.
             The age levels of male gang members appear to be related to maturational and natural developmental stages of growth. The following gang-age types were described as early as the 1920s.
             · Gang child: 6-12 years old (child)
             · Gang boy: 11-17 years old (early adolescent)
             · Gang boy: 15-25 years old (later adolescent)
             Small gangs may range in size from ten to twenty members, but in larger gangs with 200-300 members, age categories are more observable, as follows:
             · Pee Wees: 8-12 years old (latency)
             · Tinys: 12-14 years old (early adolescent)
             · Dukes: 14-16 years old (mid-adolescent)
             · Cutdowns (or major name of the gang): 16-18 years old (late adolescent)
             · Veteranos: 19-45 years old (young adult, adult)
             · Locos (the "crazies"): mixed ages
             Female adolescent gangs either assume a minor, supportive role to male gangs or are completely independent from the male gangs. Female youth gangs (ages 11-18) are beginning to increase and make their presence known. Female gang-related crimes rarely involve major violence, but rather incorrigible behavior, truancy and theft-related crimes.
             Middle-class youth, particularly those that are white, are given the benefit of the doubt by police and are not apprehended. Inner city, city and suburban lower- or middle...