There are several reasons why juveniles join gangs. Some like the feeling of belonging to a group. Others join out of need for protection. But mostly, juveniles like the idea of immediately gaining power and respect by being a member of a gang. The allure of alcohol, drugs, sex — even for young teens — and lots of money are hard to overcome for many youth.

One of the keys to prevention is being a good parent, Hansen said. Gang members have all the friends in the world; they don't need more friends. What they need instead is a parent, he said.

"Gangs can provide everything a family can provide plus power, money, sex, drugs and attention," Hansen said.

Once a juvenile is lured into a gang, the way they dress might change or they may get more tattoos, he said. Parents also should look for graffiti, he said, while school teachers should look for gang-related drawings on a student's notebook or homework assignments.

"These kids will give you storybooks," Hansen said of the extensive gang-related artwork many students carry with them in school, or in some cases tag on the school walls . "You want to know what gangs are in your school? Go to the bathroom."

Even on homework assignments, some gang members will write certain letters upside down or cross some letters out. The reason, Hansen said, was because it showed off their allegiance to a particular gang. But if teachers aren't educated about these signs, they may think its odd but not give it a second thought.

One of the worst things parents can do is be in denial about their son or daughter being a gang member, Hansen said. Some will say their children are "wannabe" gangsters, Hansen said. If not monitored closely, wannabes can become "gonnabes," he said.

Hansen said there are gang members in prison who come from wealthy white families and gang members who come from homes where both parents are still together. But if those parents don't pay attention to their children or act like a parent when necessary, they could become influenced by the gang culture.

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