In society, most people feel safe and do not have a sense of urgency that something terrible is happening around them. Although these people may hear about the excess of current events happening in the world today that can be catastrophic, they tend to not care because they perceive that it will not happen at home. Youth gang violence is a major problem in many parts of the world today. Young people are forced to comply with commitments made within the gang, which can be cataclysmic for society and for themselves. The life of a young person and their family can be changed by a simple decision to join a gang, putting many people at risk of harm. However, there are still many practical solutions to get these young people back on track. When a young person chooses to join a gang, it is usually done to escape their obstacles, therefore they are unaware that they are worsening their complications and also worsening their parents' problems. It's difficult for parents to keep their teenager away from the local gang. It will therefore be difficult for young people to withdraw from gangs when their own parents cannot dissuade them. Kocieniewski of the New York Times points out that “75% of young gang members are less involved in family activities” (3). This shows that gangs break the connection between young people and their family members. Furthermore, Simon states that "gangs radically change the way your children behave, they are less likely to spend time with their family and simply don't spend time with their family" (12). It also shows how the life of a gang member's family is altered due to the lack of time spent with their child and the lack of dialogue between them and their child. Arlem emphasizes that ...... middle of paper ...... control crime, maintain order and develop community activism. New York: New York University Press, 2005. Print. “Gang Violence – The New York Sun.” The New York sun. Np, and Web. June 9, 2011. “Gang Violence and Hate Crimes.” Queens District Attorney's Office. Np, and Web. June 9, 2011. .Merrill, Cirvin D. and Sandra Merrill. The Gang Gun Violence Prevention Handbook. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2008. Print. RIVERA, RAY. "Newburgh, where gang violence reigns - NYTimes.com." New York Times advertisement. Np, and Web. June 9, 2011. .Waters, KC Guide to Understanding Gang Violence: Exploring the Mentality Behind the Madness... Sl: Xlibris Corp, 2007. Print.