Our youth is our future. They are the seeds that will one day blossom into the garden of tomorrow. However, before they mature, they will need proper nurturing and tender care. Our youth needs to be loved, educated and disciplined. Unfortunately, society has created numerous unfavorable pitfalls that forces many youths to abandon hopes to lead a normal life and search for salvation in the world of crimes and gangs. Statistics from the 1999 National Youth Gang Survey has shown that an estimated 840,500 gang members were active in United States. Out of those numbers, roughly 50% are between the age of 18-24. (Moore, Highlights of the 1999 Youth Gang Survey) In addition, youths that are involved in gangs are getting younger and younger. It is not uncommon to find students in grade 1 and 2 committing serious acts of violence. (Youth Gangs, http://ctprevention.com/nesasa/youth/htm) The recent increase number of youth violence is in direct relation with society's failure to solve some of its most common social issues. As a result, youths join gangs to go around the obstacles that society has laid in front of them. The first step in eliminating the youth gang crisis is to understand th

Youth gangs have gotten out of control due to the many factors mentioned above. As long as these issues remain, the youth gang epidemic will remain unsolved. Despite the grim situation, as long as people are willing to work together to eliminate the problems that weaken the backbone of our society, there can still be hopes for a bright future for our youths.

To begin with, Punishing criminals incorrectly is far worse than not punishing them at all. Many methods taken by the criminal justice system proved to be ineffective against gang members. On many occasions, prisons and correctional facilities act as a higher learning institution where inmates exchange new advice and tactics for committing crimes on a higher level. (Youth Gangs: Fiction vs Fact, http://ctprevention.com/nesasa/youth/htm) Incineration of hard-core gang member is not always effective. A California study found that convicted gang members typically continued with their criminal lives after they are released simply because they will just be returning to live under the same conditions that forced them on to the road of crime to begin with. (Orlando Morningstar, 2) Locking up criminals in an attempt to rehabilitate them will most likely brew additional anger within the individual while the society that caused such criminal behavior remain, more or less, unchanged. Therefore, before rushing to hunt down and lock up youth gang members, our criminal justice system should first review what is wrong with our society.

In addition, negative influence from the media constantly attacks today's vulnerable minds with negative values that cause them to develop a longing for money. One of the key factors contributing to the recent increase in youth gang is the explosion of heavy advertisement in American culture, which has made the pursuit of money the most important goal in life. (Tonry & Moore, p401) An interview with a youth gang member revealed that the reason for his enrollment in the gang was simply for the money. He quoted: "I'm in love wit the money." (Tonry & Moore, p401) The media also delivers messages emphasizing that the ideal lifestyle is to have plenty of money and hot women riding in your expensive cars, such is shown in most Rap music videos. (Tonry & Moore, p402) Basically, the media comforts youths to believe that money brings power and respect-the two things that people will do anything to get.

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Approximate Word count = 1618
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)