Over the past few years law enforcement personnel and school officials from numerous counties in our commonwealth have reported the appearance and/or increase in the number of young people identifying themselves as a member of a Criminal Street Gang. This trend is occurring nationwide and is affecting not only large metropolitan areas, but smaller communities as well. While a majority of the contacts law environment personnel have with these subjects are occurring away from normal school activities it is clear that the number of criminal street gang members at the school age level is on the rise.

Information also indicates that children as young as nine years of age are engaging in illegal activities linked to these groups on school grounds and active recruitment of these children is occurring. The presence of these gangs in our school districts presents a special concern for those charged with the safety of students.