The Disaster Center-- Oct. 22, 2011 - 11:15 AM EDT 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment Issued
According to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment released by the National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC), approximately 1.4 million gang members belonging to more than 33,000 gangs were criminally active in the U.S. as of April, 2011.

• Gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions and up to 90 percent in several others, according to NGIC analysis.
• Gangs are increasingly engaging in non-traditional gang-related crime such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, and prostitution. Gangs are also engaging in white-collar crime such as counterfeiting, identity theft, and mortgage fraud.
• Gangs are becoming increasingly adaptable and sophisticated, employing new and advanced technology to facilitate criminal activity discreetly, enhance their criminal operations, and connect with other gang members, criminal organizations, and potential recruits nationwide and even worldwide.

It is the policy of many police departments not to talk about gang activity, because that gives the gangs public recognition that they reportedly crave. But how can a threat to public safety be solved without public involvement? Not talking about the problem leaves its solution in the hands of law enforcement alone. With 1.4 million gang members responsible for half the violent crime in the US, law enforcement doesn't seem to be doing a good job of it, without public involvement.

Map -- Number of gang members by US Counties