In an effort to combat gang violence, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office launched a series of sweeps on April 25, 2010 to pick up gang members from the streets. As of May 11, 710 alleged gang members had been arrested. But many of The kNOw writers share that the sweeps offer no solid solution to the gang problem nor does it make them feel any safer.

Anyone Can Be A Cholo The rules of the streets have changed a lot over the years. I don’t know much about other gangs, but I know about this one particular gang. They used to be all about respect and they learn the rules every time they get jumped in. But people haven’t been following [...]

When two young men started shooting during a late-night Fresno house party on Saturday, November 28, 2009 over rival tagging crew disputes, twelve people became wounded. In an article by The Fresno Bee, Police Chief Jerry Dyer noted this has been “the most wounded in a single shooting incident in Fresno in recent memory.” Here, youth from The kNOw express their concerns about the incident, and the need for more positive things for teens to do.

The gang rape of a 15-year-old student at Richmond High School in the Bay Area has made national headlines, but how are young people processing the incident? Youth writers from the Bay Area and Fresno say they would have tried to stop the assault, while others admit that they may not have had the courage to [...]

In Fresno County, the Sheriff’s Department reported approximately 12,000 documented gang members. For the July Open Workshop, youth participants share how family association, peer pressure, protection and other factors contribute to a young person’s decision to get involved in gang activity.