With last week’s shooting still fresh in our memories, some locals wonder how problematic gangs might become in our area. The Northern Star spoke to DeKalb police and University Police to hear their take on the situation.

Gangs in DeKalb

There are a few well-established gangs with members in DeKalb who have been here for a while, said DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes.

“Primarily, problems around here haven’t been violent crime or gang wars,” Kayes said. “They do put up graffiti and fight with each other occasionally.”

“In general, we only find out about these incidents if somebody ends up in the hospital or if a third party happens to witness it happening,” Kayes said.

Gangs usually use weapons like baseball bats so they don’t kill the victim, he said.

DeKalb has an officer who stays current with gang intelligence, graffiti and gang-related crimes, Kayes said.

Gangs at NIU

Gang problems are minimal on campus but there are gang members who go to NIU, said University Police Lt. Matt Kiederlen.

“There isn’t near the activity from six or seven years ago when, culturally, it was at its height,” Kiederlen said.

There have been incidents of tagging and gang graffiti, he said. It’s more individuals tagging these days than territorial gang graffiti and it’s not often.

Gang members on campus are not necessarily related to the local gang members, Kiederlen said. This is because of the difference in age group and lifestyle.

Student gang members may have more ties to the Chicago area and commute home like other students on the weekends, and that’s how trafficking of illegal items happens, he said.

What happens to gang members after they get arrested?

Juveniles are held in a juvenile facility until they turn 21, then are placed where they best fit based on their size, behavior and psychological state of mind, said George Torres, chairperson of the 16th District Gang Task Force for Kendall, DeKalb and Kane counties.

The Illinois Department of Corrections has rehabilitation programs, though the programs vary based on the facility and level of security, he said.

IDOC spokesman Derek Schnapp said state-run adult and juvenile facilities offer classes to help with gang-related issues, lifestyle redirection, anger management, family problems and substance abuse.

The programs are not mandatory for adults unless they are on probation, Schnapp said. They are also not mandatory for juveniles but inmates under a certain age are required to take educational programs.

The IDOC thinks these programs are very effective and reduce relapse by half, Schnapp said.

The programs help ex-criminals fight old habits, he said.

“It gives them options, hope and training,” he said. “Things that will keep them out of prison.”

Why do teenagers choose gangs?

Some people are lured by girls, excitement, money, family, partying, weapons or the neighborhood, said Torres.

“It’s a cultural movement of a child,” Torres said. “They follow certain rules at school and at home but they find their own cultural structure with their friends.”