Gang Stats

More stats I came across while researching for Fear No Evil :

Gang Statistics 2009
Gang Statistics
Facts at a Glance:

100% of cities with population greater than or equal to 250,000 reported gang activity in 2001
85% of cities with population between 100,000 and 229,999 reported gang activity in 2001
65% of cities with population between 50,000 and 99,999 reported gang activity in 2001
44% of cities with population between 25,000 and 49,999 reported gang activity in 2001
20% of cities with population between 2,500 and 24,999 reported gang activity in 2001
35% of suburban counties reported gang activity in 2001
11% of rural counties reported gang activity in 2001
95% of the jurisdictions reporting gang activity in 2001 had also reported gang activity in previous survey years
3,000 jurisdictions across the US are estimated to have had gang activity in 2001
56% of cities with population greater than or equal to 100,000 reported an increase or no significant change in the number of gang members in 2001
42% of cities with a population of at least 25,000 reported an increase in the number of gang members
45% of cities with a population of at least 25,000 reported an increase in the number of gangs from the previous two years
69% of cities with population at least 100,000 reported having gang related homicides in 2001
37% of cities with population between 50,000 and 99,999 reported having gang related homicides in 2001
59% of all homicides in 2001 in Los Angeles and 53% in Chicago were gang related, there was a total of 698 gang related homicides in there two cities combined where as 130 other cities with population of at least 100,000 with gang problems reported having a total of 637 homicides between them
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency

Tell me the stats aren't frightening! You may be thinking, "This is scary, but what can I do?"

Well, glad you asked! Awareness and wanting to get involved to help is the first step!

While researching, I also came across some great resources to help stop gang violence. One such site is Council for Unity
From their site: Council for Unity (CFU) is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that specializes in reducing violence in schools and communities. For over 30 years, CFU has been resolving issues of safety, bias, bullying and gang violence in schools and communities. Council for Unity has reclaimed some of our most violent and disenfranchised youth. By engaging youth to take ownership of the problems of violence and bias they themselves play a major role in developing non-violent solutions and thereby improve the environments in which they live.