Talks to Aim at Solutions to Gang Problem : Summit: Mounting concern over violence prompts county’s first such meeting; 625 delegates and 200 teens are expected.

Officials hope next week’s first countywide summit on spiraling gang problems will “throw a lifeline” to schools, police and parents, who for years have seen their children become more vulnerable to gang membership and its violence.

In a county where gang membership has grown by 35% since 1991, Board of Supervisors Chairman Harriett M. Wieder said Monday, a generation of children already might be lost.

“Without question, education is the answer to this kind of problem,” said John F. Dean, county superintendent of schools. “I’m not sure we can ever eliminate it, but we can certainly reduce it.”

Dean is one of an expected 625 delegates to the summit, which was prompted by mounting concern over gang activity in a region that had been largely free of such troubles until recent years.

The summit, scheduled for Nov. 30 at Anaheim’s Inn at the Park hotel, is expected to showcase successful programs now being used and establish a communications network for the many community organizations involved.

More than 200 local teen-agers also are expected to attend, including a number of gang members who, officials said, will describe their efforts to leave gang life behind.

“Some of these are kids who are entrenched in gangs and are making great efforts to get out,” said Colleene Hodges, the county’s supervising probation officer.

Michael Schumacher, the county’s chief probation officer, said Monday that the one-day conference could help parents grapple with the problem of gang influences.

“Parents should begin asking questions of their children,” Schumacher said. “They should be sitting down with their kids and getting more involved in their lives. You know the saying, ‘Do you know where your children are?’ I think that a lot of parents don’t know.”

The gang summit was proposed after recent reports showed that local gang membership had increased from 12,500 in 1991 to 16,902 in August, and that the number of gangs total 275. Officials found that 3,298 of the members were 18 years old or younger.

County statistics also show that gang-related slayings have jumped by 54% in three years, from 28 in 1990 to 43 last year.

“I think you’ll find that 90% of the kids are going to be fine,” Dean said. “But the remaining 10% are killing us.”

Schumacher said it is critical that social programs and other aid be directed to youths ages 14 to 16. Beyond that age, Schumacher said, it becomes nearly impossible to extricate youths from gangs.

“Gangs have been with us for years and years,” Schumacher said. “What we need is a countywide commitment that we are going to be there for the long haul.”

One of the programs expected to be showcased is the city of Westminster model called TARGET.

Police Chief James Cook said the city’s program has relied on teaming local police with prosecutors and investigators in the district attorney’s office to pursue criminal cases against gang leaders.

Since the start of the program in 1992, police officials have targeted 53 gang members for surveillance, investigation or prosecution. By January, 66% were in custody.

Of those selected for prosecution, Cook said, local authorities have been successful in every case.

Cook said the program is responsible for cutting acts of gang violence in Westminster from 91 cases last year to 33 reported this year.