The North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission says there are 1,446 gangs across the state, totaling 19,000 members. The average age of gang members is 15 years old (Our initiatives-Gang Prevention). In the 1980s, national gangs began to move away from simple local street criminals to prey on public arrangements involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities. As power and membership increased, gangs were recognized in locations outside of their usual neighborhood (SKEP). Research indicates that due to the increasing number of adolescents joining gangs, by 2012 there could be more than 41,300 gang members in North Carolina (Our Initiatives-Gang Prevention). Street gangs affect the lives of teenagers and to prevent this, schools need to offer more gang prevention programs and gang laws should be stricter. North Carolina schools need to offer more gang prevention programs. Surveys indicate that between 14% and 13% of adolescents and young adults in urban areas join gangs. Gang Resistance Education and Training GREAT is a gang prevention program built around a school-based curriculum taught by law enforcement officers that could truly benefit North Carolina and its systems schools, because GREAT's mission is to help young people develop positive life skills that will help them. they avoid gang involvement and violent behavior. Better student attitudes toward the police and greater recognition of the consequences of gang membership are the two out of three goals of the GREAT program that GREAT has achieved despite success in explaining to them the risk factors, the third goal, the reduction in gang membership and irresponsible behavior was not achieved. encounter. 5% differ... middle of paper ......revention. » Communities in North Carolina Schools. Internet. November 26, 2011. .Right Moves for Youth. Internet. November 28, 2011. “SKEP The influence of gangs, clubs and other school-related groups on classroom management – ​​WikEd. » Main page – WikEd.Web. November 26, 2011. TKF Mission Statement. Internet. November 30, 2011. .Tkf.org. Internet. November 30, 2011. « UPDATE: Eight shot in nightclub shooting early Saturday morning | Crime Blog | Dallasnews.com. Crime Blog | Dallasnews.com. Internet. November 30. 2011. .