How can I get my niece out of a gang?

Question

I posted before but saw it was in the entertainment catagory so maybe that why it didn't get answered. My niece who is 14 is messed up in a gang. My mom wants me to talk to her bout it but I don't know what to say. I always thought she was just a wannabe cause she dresssed like a rap video girl but I guess it's a hard core gang. She lives in a really bad hood so maybe she feels safer being in a gang. I really don't know what to say to her since I have no idea what it's like to be in a gang. My mom is all crazy bout it cause she's heard all the bad stuff of gangs. Does any one know what it's like in a gang and why a girl would join?

Answer 1

They join for exceptance and out of fear. The best way to get her out of the gang is to get her out of the hood. I know that it is not easy to just up and move a whole family....but her future move may be prison or a cemetary if she stays in this place. Once a person is in a gang, it is pretty impossible to safely get back out, so as I see it moving away from there is the only way. Be prepared for resistance no matter what, as very often her gang brothers and sisters become more important than real family does. This is so sad, best of luck to all of you.

Answer 2

In a gang you have your own name and reputation. Nobody cares what you do or have done, the gang respects you for the image that you are around them. She may feel comfortable becasue she believes that these people in the gang respect her for who she is. I believe you are also right in thinking that she is safe in the gang.
Before you go all out on her and tell her to sop being in the gang I would say that you need to hear her side of the story and why she wants to be in this gang and what kind of things she is doing. This is what I did when my cousin joined a gang and she said those reasons that I stated. She was 16 though. So just talk to her and get her perspective.

Answer 3

She needs an intervention. If she continues down this path then her future is at risk. She needs all of her connection with the gang broken.
Perhaps you move her in with another family member that doesn't live near where the gang is. Take away her cell phone if she has one and monitor her every move until she proves that she can be trusted to make good decisions again.
Her parents are obviously not doing their job if their 14 year old daughter is involved with a gang, so removing her from that house and placing her in another, more stable home would really be the biggest help.
There are several programs out there meant to help young people get out of the gang lifestyle. One of which will send her to visit a women's prison, so she can see what kind of future she has in store for her if she continues. Another one is a sort of survival camp, that teaches self reliance, thus eliminating the need to be in a gang.
Good luck to you. I feel bad for you to be put in the middle of a situation like this.

Answer 4

i know all about this
to be initiated in the gang they can"jumped in", where other members beat up the recruit in order to test his dedication. Usually a girl is forced to have sex with the male memebers and do acts to gain entry Sometimes the recruit may be given a crime to commit (robbery, rape, or murder) as another route of entry. once they are in they become foot soldiers and basically becomes somebody's b*** and do what they tell them to do to gain rank a gangmember will throw signs were flags and talk a certain way Gangs often spread by a parent or family moving out of the gang neighborhood, and the children taking the gang culture and lore with them to a new area and recruiting new members for their old gang. This concept has been referred to as satellite gangs. Some very well known gangs are the California-based Crips and Bloods, or the Sureños and Norteños. Other large gangs include the white power gang Nazi Low Riders, or NLR, the Latin Kings, the Gangster Disciples of Chicago, the Vice Lords, the Los Angeles-based 18th Street gang, and the Jamaican Posses. In the 1980s, other gangs, such as the Central American gang named Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), the Miami based International Posse or In/p and the Cambodian gangs Tiny Raskal Gang (TRG) which is the largest, most dangerous Asian Gang in the nation,[citation needed] and have appeared on America's Most Wanted.ask her what its like for her.

Answer 5

Whoever plays the parental role needs to be involved. Often parents are in denial or don't care. Not always, of course.
First, talk to her sympathetically and see what she will tell you and what her attitude is. Try to keep a good relationship with her even if you have to involve the authorities.
I'd recommend counseling. I got an excellent counselor referral from the school counselor at a local Continuation School (where they send kids who have been expelled from other schools). But if she won't cooperate, this could be of little benefit.
If she is a gang member she is undoubtedly involved in illegal activities. You may have to involve the police if she is not receptive to your idea of quitting the gang. Illegal activities you can use to call the police include truancy, alcohol or marijuana use, violation of curfew, hitting her mom (or you), breaking things at home or on other people's property, theft from her mom or others, etc. If she is arrested, she will be placed on probation and her parent(s) will have more control over her. If it gets even worse, they can place her in a therapeutic facility. This is what can happen in California where I live. I found out because of a friend's son's misadventures. You have to be very persistent with calling the police, because the courts are very busy.
It's important to keep her off drugs and alcohol because you can't do too much with somebody who isn't sober. Also, drugs at this stage of development keep kids from maturing mentally.
Another source of help, if you think it's appropriate, is Victory Outreach Church. They specialize in helping people with this kind of problem.
I wish you and your niece the very best. This can be a very difficult problem.

Answer 6

My brother died at the age of 15 because he was a gang... Being in a gang can lead to serious consequences: legally, socially, and/or painfully. Most people join gangs mostly because of peer pressure and/or protection. Have you heard of Stanley 'Tookie' Williams? Read this biography about him and you might find what some gangs do. And here's some links of some major gangs called:Crips and Bloods.

Answer 7

Well.. she may have low self esteem, and gang members treat eachother like blood, and will do anything for eachother. This would be very comforting if you felt like you didn't fit in with anyone. I don't know what it is like to be in a gang, but I've talked to someone who was in a gang before. She told me that when she tried to leave, they got so pissed at her, that they tried to KILL her. That is something VERY serious that you need to think about. After this girl was hospitalized, she had to move to a different state to actually be safe. Take all these things into account before deciding what to do.

Answer 8

When u join a gang u get jumped beat up and if u survive u join and if u die you die they dont give a f*ck. When ppl join gangs they join becuz they feel like if u join a gang ur actually something. and gang bangers they commit crimes they do everything bad and ur niece probably lives in South Central L.A. Where there are lots of gangs so shes seeing other ppl get jumped so she probably joins becuz of peer presure. and if u wanna get out of the gang they beat you up even harder and if u die u died and u survied ur out . but i think if girls wanna get out they get raped. But sit ur niece down ask her why is she involved in all this. then try to get an ex gang memebr to talk to her about it. And if u can't tell her that she might end up dead or in prison. Good Luck hoped I helped aight Peace!

Answer 9

She probably joined for most reasons people join... to fit in. I was in a gang once and I thought they were my "family," but it turned out they were only looking out for themselves when it came down to it.

Your niece is confused and at that ripe age of 14 she's looking for a sense of belonging. What got me to quit the gang I was in was when my friend Jose was stabbed to death, R.I.P. I stopped seeing it as "down for the gang" and more as down for these people who didn't really care. I realized I don't need those people to feel good about myself.

Of course not all people go through this transition... most stay the same for a long time. I would suggest contacting an ex-gang member. Those guys tell it like it is. If that's not possible, tell her the only two possibilities for her are prison and death.

Answer 10

My brother was in a gang, and they get jumped into it, which means the gang members beat her up to see how tough she is and then they committ crimes and murder. You should sit her down and talk to her about how her future could end up dead or in jail and all the bad things gang members do and that they really aren't her second family, they are her real enemy. Good luck. Prey and I hope it works out well.