What Schools Should Do

How to implement a strategy to prevent or deal with gangs

Identify students vulnerable to gang recruitment and provide them with special assistance, particularly through the use of peer counselors and support groups.
Mentoring, conflict resolution, youth employment, bullying prevention, and tutoring can be particularly effective.
Include moral and ethical education, values clarification, and conflict resolution as important components of the school curriculum.
Ensure your school has an anti-gang tolerance policy that covers bullying, colors, hand signals, etc.
Educate all school staff, including support staff, about how gangs develop, what to look for and how to respond to gang activities and behaviors.
Implement a dress code or uniform to prevent the wearing of gang colors.
When gang / criminal activity occurs at school, don’t handle it internally. Call the police and allow them to take appropriate action. This will send the message to gang members that you won’t tolerate gang activity at your school.
Remove graffiti from school grounds. Pay particular attention to rest rooms, lockers, and other secluded places. Report the graffiti you see to the police. Try to photograph graffiti before you remove it.

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