This article presents the problem of gangs on the island of Puerto Rico from a historical, economical, and political perspective. Some Puerto Rican historians are convinced that the gang problem in Puerto Rico is due to the political ambiguity and human rights violations of prison inmates (F. Pico, 1998). Some social scientists believe that gangs are not a widespread problem in Puerto Rico. Their claim is supported by the fact that the only literature about gangs that can be found in Puerto Rican libraries is in newspapers and not in academic literature (De Jesus Mangual, 2002; Serrano, 2002). This article argues that gangs do exist in Puerto Rico and shed light on the problem from a historical perspective. It concludes with a list of recommendations for counselors based on the article's analysis and review of literature.