An Anti-Gang Program That Lets Families Help

Gang activity in Orange County is growing by dangerous and disturbing bounds. Less than 10 years ago there were about 24 gangs with an estimated membership of 2,000. Today there are more than 80 gangs with more than 6,000 members. And there is about one gang-related killing each month.

In many--if not most--cases, the increase in gang membership is accompanied by a decrease in parental control. And that applies to some children as young as 10.

Some parents don’t realize that their children are gang members until it’s too late. Or if they know it, they don’t know what to do about it. Many parents are intimidated by their children and back off in fear and confusion.

A unique program launched in Orange County this week is aimed at helping those beleaguered parents, and others who may not yet know of their children’s gang ties, to regain control.

Unlike other programs that have concentrated on trying to persuade children in school not to join gangs, or to divert them from the gangs after they got into trouble with juvenile authorities, this program is aimed at training and helping parents to cut off the gang’s recruitment successes. It seeks to put parents between the gangs and their children before impressionable youngsters become hard-core gang members.

Tom Wright, who supervises the county Probation Department’s gang violence suppression unit, and Michael Fleager, one of his deputies, thought they could cut down gang membership by helping parents and teachers recognize some of the early symptoms of membership. The idea is to provide training sessions on a one-on-one basis to teach some “practical” things that parents can do to regain control.

The state Office of Criminal Justice Planning in Sacramento, which funneled about $2 million into Orange County last year to help fight gangs, liked the idea. No one before had focused efforts on parents and the home. The state office authorized a $60,000 grant to launch the pilot program.

It’s a worthwhile effort that focuses attention where it should be--in the home, where caring parents with knowledge, strength, understanding and love can work to replace gang ties with family ties.