Dave Reichert once said, “Gang violence in America is not a sudden problem. It has been a part of urban life for years, providing aggressive definition and identity to those seeking a place to belong in the chaos of large metropolitan areas” (Quotes by Dave Reichert). Nowadays, gangs are not only made up of adults on the streets, but also teenagers in school. Various experts claim that “gang membership is particularly prevalent among urban youth under the age of 18” (Teen Gangs). As a result, gangs are now seen in many schools, which could lead to increased violence between students. Schools need to take a stronger stance against these gangs to reduce increased violence. Throughout U.S. history, gangs have been groups that routinely use threats to commit crimes. Crime rates increased during the 1960s and 1970s, in part because of the large number of teenagers involved in crime. During the 1980s, juvenile delinquency continued to increase, although some types of delinquency declined. But according to most reports, "gang activity declined somewhat in the 1990s. Experts attribute the decline to a combination of factors, including an improving economy, a decline in crack cocaine use, stricter law enforcement and more violence prevention programs” (Teen Gangs). Statistics show that the number of gang members fell to "780,000 in 1998 from 846,000 in 1996, according to OJJDP" (Teen Gangs). Another report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that "the proportion of high school students who reported carrying a weapon in the past 30 days fell to 18 percent in 1997, from 26 percent in 1991" (Teen Gangs). Various people come to believe that gang membership is a serious dan...... middle of paper ......eb. May 22, 2012. “School Safety.” Issues and controversies on file. Internet. May 23, 2012. “Teen Gangs and Crime.” Issues and controversies on file:. Internet. May 23, 2012. “Teenage gangs.” Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, April 9, 2009. Web. May 22, 2012. “Updated: School Safety.” Problems and controversies recorded: n. page. Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, May 11, 2007. Web. June 5, 2012. “Zero Tolerance.” Problems and controversies recorded: n. page. Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, July 13, 2001. Web. June 5 2012. .