Citation

Gurke B, Armstrong ML. J. Sch. Nurs. 1997; 13(2): 13-17.

Affiliation

Thomas Jefferson High School, Dallas, TX, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, National Association of School Nurses, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9146217

Abstract

Gangs are noted for establishing their territory, flaunting gang affiliation, intimidating nonmembers, and documenting their "services performed." These examples are a few reasons for the practice of "tagging," the labeling of an area, person, or object with gang-related graffiti or markings, such as tattoos. This article describes a school nurse's response to gang "tagging" and her efforts to assist former gang members who request removal of their tattoos, to get them removed-in essence to D-TAG themselves from their gang affiliation. D-TAG is a volunteer rehabilitation program utilizing family and community interaction to support gang tattoo removal and direct activities away from gang affiliations toward alternative educational programs and life styles.

Language: en