Gangs have existed since the beginning of the Roman Empire. There were speeches given by the Roman orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero, who refers to groups of men who constantly fought and disrupted Roman politics (Curry, 2013). The history of street gangs in the United States begins with their appearance on the East Coast around 1783, at the end of the American Revolution. Although many believe that the best available evidence suggests that more serious street gangs probably did not emerge until the early part of the nineteenth century (Sante, 1991). While our country has had its share of feared gangs, such as in the 1980s with the war between the Bloods and Crips, in the 17th and 18th centuries the Mohocks of Georgian England were one of the most feared gangs. What attracts young people to the gang lifestyle? Many people will say that most gang members are children from poor communities, single family homes where the father was not present, or perhaps there is a more psychological/sociological answer? By appearance and presence, most gangs cause fear, crime and disillusionment in the communities they occupy. Throughout history joining a gang has been perceived as a life without any reward, however by joining this lifestyle many young people are able to gain the stability and security needed in their lives. Webster's dictionary contains several definitions of the meaning of gang. The definition that best suits minors is a group of young people who do illegal things together and who often fight against other gangs, or a group of people who are friends and who do things together. (Webster's) One of the problems faced by law enforcement and other professionals is the lack of a consistent definition of gang. Generally a ga...... middle of paper...... Memoirs of contemporary street gangs. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi Merriam-Webster Dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangMorch, S., & Andersen, H. (2012). Becoming a gang member: Youth life and gang youth. Online submissionRegoli, R., Hewitt, J., DeLisi, M. (2011), The Essentials Delinquency in Society, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sante, L. (1991). Lowlife: Lures and Traps of Old New York. New York: Vintage Books. Schmidt, L. M., & O'Reilly, J. T. (2007). Gangs and law enforcement: A guide to addressing gang-related violence. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD.Sela-Shayovitz, R. (2012). Gangs and the Web: Online behavior of gang members. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 28(4), 389-405. Doi: 10.1177/1043986212458191Soordhas, J. T. (2009). Gangs: violence, crime and anti-gang initiatives. New York: Nova Science.