DEVELOP AN ANTI-GANG ENVIRONMENT IN YOUR CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL
If your school does not have a policy regarding gang activity or dress, determine if current school policy will sufficiently cover gang incidents. If not, help in getting your school to enforce a gang activity or dress policy. Please inform parents and students on policy changes, and enforce them consistently as well as fairly.
LEARN THE LATEST INFORMATION ON GANG AWARENESS Gangs are constantly changing. Continually obtain current updates from your local law enforcement agency on the type of gang activity in your area. Learn about the newest gangs in the area, their hangouts, graffiti, clothing trends, activities, rivals, etc.
SHARE GANG INFORMATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Contact your local police department and request that they assign an officer to your school as a liaison between the school and the police department. (In many areas, school resourse officers are assigned full-time in a school and are available to help surrounding schools).
MAKE FREQUENT CONTACT WITH PARENTS OF HIGH-RISK STUDENTS
Parents are often the last to know about their child's gang involvement . Please alert parents, if you notice sudden changes in any student's attitude, grades, and/or dress. Never assume that the parent already knows.
ASSIGN MENTORS TO STUDENTS WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY IN SCHOOL
Many youth are drawn to gangs because it provides them with a support structure and feelings of belonging. Students who are struggling in school need to feel that they are successful at something positive and/or good. A mentor can give a student feelings that someone cares about them.
LEARN ABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS
Teachers can often steer their students towards positive activities that can reduce their likelihood of becoming gang-involved. There are also many community resources available for families that are struggling with gang members in their family.
TEACH STUDENTS ANTI-VIOLENCE AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
Many students will turn to gangs to solve their problems or to provide protection. Teaching your students problem solving and behavior skills can reduce the number of violent incidents on school property. Students will also feel more in control and confident of their abilities to "Stand Alone" and the need for gangs is reduced.
DO NOT IGNORE AND/OR GLORIFY GANG ACTIVITY
Students will often discuss recent gang activity in their area and may glorify the gang members that are involved. The Educator should discourage such discussions, and at the same time act as a facilitator to help youth understand the negative consequence of gang activity so it can be dealt with in a realistic manner and used as a learning experience for students.
BE AWARE OF STUDENT SUB-GROUPS
E.g. jocks, punkers, surfers, gang-related pupils, and notice where there is any deviation from the "norm" within these groups. For example, be aware of drastic changes in clothing. Chances are there could very well be a fight that day.
BE AWARE OF FIGHTS BREWING
Look for student sub-groups milling around in areas they normally would not congregate or more than the usual number in a group.
Fights should be handled with care. Be most concerned with your own safety. Get help when needed.
Keep the combatants separated when taking them to the office and then while in the office. Never run to a fight. It draws a crowd.
Learn the names of potential problem students. In a fight, students will stop fighting sooner if you call them by their names, e.g."Bill, stop it now" "Aaron, stand here."
BE ALERT FOR STUDENT DRUG DEALERS
Watch for "loners" going back from group to group. They may often carry a book bag, folder, or other "non-conspicous" item in which to hide drugs and are always holding these items in a suspicously protective manner.
BE ALERT FOR STUDENTS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
A person under the influence can easily be detected by:
Smell- marijuana, alcohol
Appearance- sleepy, nervous, dry-mouthed, red eyes, dilated pupils
Speech- slurred, overly friendly
Suspicious behavior- different or opposite from his/her normal behavior; passing something to another person in a secretive manner.
Do not antagonize a student under the influence of a controlled substance.
Don't leave students alone, call for assistance. Be sure they don't get rid of evidence.
Remain calm. Be reassuring and talk to the student about something unrelated as you walk him/her to the office.
Get a second or even third opinion whenever possible.
OTHER HELPFUL IDEAS
Always carry a small pad and pencil. Documentation is very important for future reference. It is also a good deterrent for potential behavior problems.
Direct all visitors in a professional manner to the administrative office. Do not let them wander through the campus.
Discourage students from standing in front of the school by the street. This creates bad public relations. You don't want the community to perceive your students as "loiters"
For more information on the identifiers/activities of local gangs, contact:
OGDEN/WEBER METRO GANG UNIT
2186 Lincoln Ave.
Ogden, Utah 84401 (801) 629-8037
Preparation and printing of this document financed by the U.S Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Grant Number 8D57
