- Racism is a big factor in becoming a gang member often young people encounter both personal and institutional racism.
- Poverty is a big factor in decision to join a gang, people join gangs because they have no money and have no goals in life and gangs are a good way to make some money on the side and find something to do in the environment in which they live.
- Lack of support and guidance is another huge factor young kids often join gangs because its really easy to for the members of the gang to lead them into the gang life. The kids are really young and they don't have a seance of whats right or wrong, but the problem is a lot of times once those kids get in they will never get out of the gang life.
- Another factor is the media all the shows, movies and games showing crime happening and people getting money out of it and not getting punished for it makes the people want to do it.