Books in the Opposing Viewpoints Series present debates about current issues that can be used to teach critical reading and thinking skills. The variety of opinions expressed in this collection of articles and book excerpts explore many aspects of juvenile gangs. Some youths join gangs of their own free choice, to satisfy ego or greed. Others are impelled by the socioeconomic and environmental factors that attract young people to gangs. Joining a gang may be more a conditioned response to the experience of growing up in the inner-city than a free choice. Some argue that joining a gang is a predictable consequence of urban life. The 25 selections in this collection consider the influences attracting youth to gangs and assess America's gang problems in the following chapters: (1)"What Encourages Gang Behavior?"; (2) "How Serious a Problem Are Gangs?"; (3) "How Can Street Gangs Be Controlled?"; and (4) "Personal Narratives: How Do Gang Members View Themselves?" Each chapter contains a list of periodical references. (Contains 1 figure, 1 table, a list of 18 resource organizations, and 47 references.) (SLD)