In contrast, Asian gangs often travel hundreds of miles from home in order to conduct their activities (Bodinger-deUriarte, 1993). In addition, African American and Hispanic gangs are much more likely to display their colors than are Asian gangs. Anglo gangs are often made up of white supremacists. Gangs can also vary tremendously in numbers and age of the members. The African American gangs tend to engage in murder or deviant sexual activities. It has been shown that the Hispanic gangs recruit girls into their societies even at the age of ten or eleven. Also the Because of certain acts and betrayal against their "colors", Hispanic gang will commit acts of murder. These acts are to set an example to all members, and all those who may wish to join these groups. In fact, there are even times that for initiation one must commit a murder, so that the group knows that you will not give them up for other crimes. .
The next question is why gangs develop and why do students join them. Gangs may take root in society and schools for many reasons, but the primary attraction of gangs is their ability to respond to student needs that are otherwise not met. As stated above, they often provide youth with a sense of family and acceptance otherwise lacking in their lives. In addition, especially in these times with the recent mass gangs" immigration of many groups to our country, we have a language barrier. These recent immigrants then come together as a way of maintaining a strong ethnic identity. Understanding how gangs meet these student needs prepares schools to better respond to them. Four factors are primary in the formation of juvenile gangs (William Gladden Foundation, 1992): which I have listed below as an indicator of some of what I feel has brought my peers into these situations. .
• First, youth experience a sense of alienation and powerlessness because of a lack of traditional support structures, such as family and school.
