Better to be Alone Than in Bad Company

Juvenile gang violence has been a significant factor in the high levels of violence in many countries across the region, especially Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago. Better to be Alone than in Bad Company: A Handbook About Gangs for Caribbean Parents and Children was written with Caribbean parents and children in mind. Whether the juvenile is a gang member, contemplating joining a gang, being pressured into joining a gang or is seeking a way out of a gang, this book will be of interest to both the parent and the juvenile. Better to be Alone than in Bad Company is a book that is of great importance as it addresses many issues surrounding covert gang activities, which parents and children may not fully understand or appreciate. Also addressed are a variety of strategies which legislators and volunteers can utilize to steer vulnerable children away from gangs. From the dancehalls and garrisons of Jamaica to the idyllic beaches of St. Lucia, from the industrialized cities of Trinidad and Tobago to the lush green Amazonian villages of Guyana, juvenile gangs can be found. Can juveniles keep away from gangs? Can parents keep their children out of gangs? Can legislators introduce effective social policies to assist at risk juveniles? Can juveniles be mentored out of gangs? Can Caribbean juveniles be saved from gangs? This is mission possible and the consequences of failure to save juveniles from the scourge of gang life are unimaginable. For the parent, the juvenile, the legislator, and the community the consequences of failure to save the next generation of Caribbean parents and future leaders from the clutches of gangs and gangsters are frightening. Indeed, the task is surmountable and can be achieved by educating, monitoring and mentoring juveniles on the inherent dangers of gang involvement.