How widespread is the problem of gangs? Girl membership in gangs is on the rise / Eloisa Ruano Gonzalez ; The problem of girl gangs has been exaggerated / Joan Smith ; Gangs are a problem of the underprivileged / Ely Flores ; Privileged children also get involved in gangs / Gillian Flaccus ; Immigration contributes to the gang problem / Brian R. Ballou and Maria Sacchetti ; Immigrants are not responsible for increases in criminal activity / The Economist

Why do people join gangs? Adolescents join gangs for a sense of social belonging / Phelan Wyrick ; Victims of violent crimes join gangs / Terrance J. Taylor ; The rap industry exacerbates the gang problem / Donald Lyddane ; The relationship between rap and gangs has been misunderstood / John M. Hagedorn ; Gangs are proliferating in prisons / Michael Montgomery ; Prison managers are effectively fighting the proliferation of gangs in prisons / Ron Holvey

What should be done to prevent gangs? State lawmakers are helping to prevent gangs / Sarah Hammond ; Policy makers and police do not help prevent gangs / Judith Greene and Kevin Pranis ; Police do not effectively combat gangs / Trymaine Lee ; Gang prevention programs that offer alternatives to youth will decrease gang activity / Irving A. Spergel ; Many gang prevention programs have not been proven effective / Delbert S. Elliot

What is the impact of gangs? Gangs have a large economic impact / Fight Crime: Invest in Kids ; Gangs often traffic in drugs / Nicholas V. Lampson ; Not all gang members are involved in drugs / Trevor Bennett and Katy Holloway ; Gangs disrupt schools / Susannah Rosenblatt ; Gangs do not increase violence in schools / Sarah Schmidt.