Appendix


 * More Gang Members Commentaries on Why They Join Gangs:**

//I like it for the money. We made lots of money sellin drugs and stealin and ripping people off. I got to buy stuff I could not get with no job at Macdonalds. In this world ya got to have some bling (male 21 years).// //The gang is like my family man. They got my back. When you need something like some clothes or some food or some money or a place to crash they are there. When you need to talk they are there. When you got a beef they got your back. I love these guys man. They are my blood, my heart (male 22 years).// //Hey, one of the reasons I joined is because I was scared. Got beat up a couple of times, got jumped and had my walkman stolen and my money. I needed backup cause I can’t fight these guys on my own (male 18).// //I’m poor and white. Poor whites get nothin in Canada. I can’t claim racism, can’t get no special programming or special help in school. I’m no refugee. Your white and a guy so nobody gives you any sympathy. They just expect you to be okay. Immigrants get all the jobs and breaks. So I just give up and will do the crime thing. At least you have fun, get respect from your friends. When you don’t give a shit you stop worrying and it’s not so bad. Drugs and drinking help to (male 19).// //If I thought I could get out and get a real job that pays good I would. But I’m not some spoiled kid. My daddy ain’t gonna give me a car when I graduate and send me to Europe for a vacation. Some white kids in my high school just got that shit. It’s like they expected it. My mom don’t have no money to send me to university. See –I got no chance. So I do what I have to do. At least I have my pride. I can be brave and fight and make some money….but really I’ve just kinda given up (male 24 years).//


 * Youth Gang Violence Is A Problem**

// We have a very very violent youth society. They don't even recognize their violence. Their parents don't even recognize their violence. (I've never) worked with a group of young people who have ... been so preoccupied with violence. (Police Officer #7) // // They are serious. I don't see individual acts of violence anymore among youth. 1 can't remember the last one on one fight I ever investigated. They just don't seem to happen anymore. Clearly it's a trend to a collective nature. (Youth gangs/groups) are acting out more and more each year, certainly for the last few years where those statistics are available, but I believe it's actually been longer than that. (Victim) //

// Gangs are certainly a problem in schools. It's not just a question of one or two bullies in a school anymore. That's long since past. What ends up happening is these groups of kids have a very negative effect on the school environment because they are intimidating. They threaten the peaceful atmosphere in a school and there are many students (and) staff members ... who are frightened of these people. (Social Worker) //


 * Witness Commentaries:**

//I think part of the problem has been the breakdown of trust in adults generally. A breakdown in terms of our politicians ... our ministers aren't to be trusted, our priests are making headlines all the time. A general mistrust of not only the institutions but the adults that make up institutions. It's pretty hard for them to find a role model these days other than the ones they find in ... videos and in the media (School Official).//

//Kids, I feel, quite often don't trust the adult systems out there and as a result they feel they have to become reliant on their friends to protect themselves. As a result they're forming gangs (Police Officer).//

//I can understand the school not wanting anyone to know that they're having problems. The school is very cautious about their public image. I had a ... discussion with some good friends of ours and they're both teachers in another area. They said that this is not a problem in their area and that I was exaggerating. We tried to go through it all with them and up to the point where we actually shared with them what had happened to us they really truly didn't believe it. I think there still is a great disbelief that this is happening. When my husband came into the office bleeding from the face I demanded that the principal be brought to the viceprincipal's office immediately. They told me he was too busy. I said, "You get him!" We explained to him the situation and they went to get a bag of ice for my husband. The principal basically indicated that he disbelieved (we were attacked). He said, "Oh really. Well that kind of thing doesn't happen at my school." Well ... the viceprincipal basically gave him a little sense of reality. They were not going to call the police. They refused to initially and I demanded that they do so (Victim).//

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