Gangs are an important part of today's society. They contribute to much of the delinquent behavior present in our youth today. Chapter 8 – Peers and Delinquency: Gangs and Youth Groups provides an overview of gangs in general. Provide details on why they formed their different activities, languages ​​and codes. First we must highlight that teenagers are the main target of gangs. As children grow and go through adolescence, they seek acceptance from peers. They form cliques. Their group of friends plays an important role in social development. Choosing to join a gang can contribute to acceptance and a sense of protection (Siegel). In the 1970s gang activity was high. With the creation of the Crips, other rival gangs such as the Bloods emerged. Gangs are very territorial. They have unwritten rules that establish mutual boundaries in their prospective neighborhoods. Gangs can also be classified by race. There are Latino gangs and African American gangs with their own distinct characteristics and language. Although rivalry exists between the races, the way they communicate is similar. Gangs mark their territory with graffiti, stylized writing and 3D drawings. They also have a color to identify themselves and a dress code to identify themselves (Siegel). There are four different types of bands defined in this chapter. The Social Gang is involved in little criminal activity and little use of drugs other than marijuana and alcohol. These members are interested in social activities. Party Gang focuses on drug use and selling, however forgoes most delinquent behavior. The gang of serious criminals engages in serious criminal behavior while avoiding drug dealing and drug use. Organized gangs are heavily involved in crime. Drug use and dealing are linked to... middle of paper... gang. Joining a gang can also depend on economic factors and what happens in the family. Many join for protection and to have that sense of family that they probably don't have at home. Gang activities have changed over time. At first it was just about protecting the neighborhood, now the level of violence has increased for expansion purposes. The gangs are now more violent than before. This is due to gang rivalry and drug sales turf wars. Young people over time see more gang-related activity. Gang violence and affiliations are publicized across the nation. With rappers mentioning these gangs in songs to create the Crip walk, gangs are impacting the lives of teenagers on a daily basis. Such acts by people that adolescents look up to and the conditions they face in society can contribute to juvenile delinquency.