Juveniles and minorities living under certain social conditions are at the highest risk for recruitment into criminal street gangs. Hispanic and female recruitment into criminal street gangs is rising. Involvement in criminal street gangs result in social rejection and lost opportunities for one's future. Research in this study focused mainly on criminological theory and its relationship to criminal street gangs. It is not known to what extent the public is familiar with the underlying causes and risk associated to juvenile gang recruitment. The purpose of this study was to examine public opinion on criminal street gangs, focused mainly within the El Paso, Texas region. The study group was restricted to enrolled students at El Paso Community College. Results of the study suggest that within a socially organized community, community members have a decent understanding of modern criminology and the negative underlying social impacts which influence juvenile delinquency and gang involvement.