Violent Gangs Proliferate in D.C. September 18, 2003
News Summary
Law-enforcement officials in Washington, D.C., are reporting a rise in violent, highly structured gangs who are recruiting members from urban and suburban neighborhoods, the Washington Post reported Sept. 17.According to officials, the number of gang members in the area has skyrocketed to more than 3,000. Many of the members belong to gangs with links to established Latino, African-American, and Asian gangs in other states.
Although D.C. police have strengthened their gang unit, developed a database to share information, and received a $500,000 federal grant to fight the problem, gangs continue to leave their violent mark.
This summer alone, four murders were linked to gangs, as well as a number of shootings and beatings.
In Washington, Latino-based gangs are growing the fastest, with recruitment drives held at high schools and middle schools. Students are enticed to skip school and come to parties featuring alcohol and other drugs.
"They contact people by cell phone. They pick people up in a van," said a recent teenage graduate of High Point High School in Prince George's. "I've seen my friends get in the van. They've asked me to go. I said no."
The police database identifies 1,801 gang members, the majority of whom live in the District.
"New gang members are moving into the Washington area all the time," said Carlos Aquino, youth minister at Shrine of the Sacred Heart Church in northwest Washington. "We don't have the problem that Los Angeles does. But if we don't do something now, it may get worse."
Boston University School of Public Health 
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