Defining what a gang is is a very important step of gang awareness.
A gang can be defined in many ways.
According to the National School Safety and Security Services (NSSSS), there really is no universally accepted definition of a gang. Definitions continue to be debated over by the nation's most experienced scholars who study gangs.
A youth gang can be described, though, as a group of youths who interact frequently, are frequently and deliberately involved in illegal activities, share a common collective identity, and typically adopt certain methods of identification and/or claim control over a certain area.
These are all indications that school officials and teachers must be aware of and looking for in order to control gang activity.