The Poconos, in Northern Pennsylvania, has experienced a surge in crimes committed by young people. Between 1990 and 2005, the number of new criminal cases against adolescents increased from 176 to 640 - all of them first-time offenders.

"'Gang activity is on the rise. It is here, and we will be dealing with it for many years,' [Monroe County's Chief Probation Officer Steve] Houloose said. His office has worked with Pocono kids who are admitted members of the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings and various branches of those gangs."

Houloose and others point to a lack of parental supervision - caused by long commutes which force parents to leave early in the morning and not return until late at night, and an influx of kids from urban communities who struggle to find appropriate activities to keep them busy. Read more at PoconoRecord.com.

Find parenting tips and help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: criminals, gangs, parental_involvement