Children are especially vulnerable to gangs because of their need for a sense of belonging, local experts say.
Zima McGee, professor of sociology at Hampton University, said negative peer groups, like gangs, often step into children's lives when there is a "broken bond" or a lack of attachment to family, church, sports or some other healthy group or relationship.
"Young children are more likely to join gangs because there is…a need for friendship, excitement and protection," she said. "The gang has quite a bit to offer the very young. Because there is that sense of acceptance, there is that sense of value that comes from being a member of that gang."
"They gain their sense of self from that group," she said.
McGee has researched youth violence and victimization and recently spoke as an expert at a joint Newport News-Hampton forum about gangs and youth violence. She and other experts said they don't think there is one reason that children seek gangs, although they said certain family or community environments can put them at a greater risk.
Family dysfunction such as drugs or abuse are risk factors, McGee said. But any disruption to a family structure can make a child vulnerable, she said, which is what gang members seek when they recruit.
"They do prey upon the very young, very vulnerable children," she said. "They recognize that those children are in need of love and security."
McGee said even family financial stress or moving frequently can put children at risk.
"Children are very impressionable," she said. "They see this disruption, and for some of them, even though there's disruption because they're moving to different places, they still see that as a sense of abandonment."
But McGee said she's seen some cases where risk factors are not present. Sometimes it's simply that the gang has a stronger pull on the child than the family, she said.
McGee said there are a number of signs parents might see if a child is involved with a gang. The child may be withdrawn and not want to talk. The child might become obsessed with video games or music or demonstrate violent or thrill-seeking behaviors.
"They're very excited or interested in anything that involves violence," she said.
Parents may also notice changes in the child's appearance or dress.
"In some gangs, there are certain brands, certain colors of clothing," she said.
McGee and other experts said that sometimes the signs get missed because parents don't know what they are or because of other issues they may be dealing with in the household.
Brandon Jones, supervisor of youth development at Newport News Public Schools, said educators watch for changes in behavior and physical changes, but sometimes they don't recognize it as a gang issue until a disciplinary problem arises.
He said if they determine a student is active with a gang, they try to pair him or her with a mentor, such as a teacher or school counselor.
But Jones said the school division in recent years has increasingly focused on prevention by offering more clubs and activities, hoping students will form positive connections.
"We just try to stop them before they get to that point," he said.
Jones said school officials recognize they have no choice but to make prevention a priority since students cannot properly learn when there are distractions in their lives.
"If they are not emotionally safe…then you can't teach them," he said.
Being an educator has become so much more than simply teaching math, science or reading, he said.
"No longer are we just academic professionals," he said.
Pawlowski can be reached by phone at 757-247-7478.