The choice was not whether to join a gang but which one, he said.

These kids can't find jobs but they can join gangs.

"Are you going to let your kids join a gang?"

At 15, he dropped out of school and joined a gang.

Some youth feel they have to join a gang in order to support their families.

Many of them looked into the reasons why people join gangs.

Students quickly learn to join gangs for protection, he said.

In some areas, joining a gang is an integrated part of the growing up process.

"Some of their kids have been approached and one even joined a gang."

Marcus is not sure why a 14-year-old friend joined a gang two years ago.